Sporobolus hintonii

HABIT Annual. Glands capitate (on leaf margins), or raised crateriform (elsewhere). Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 4–6 -noded. Culm-internodes glandular (below nodes). Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glandular (on keel); keeled; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glandular; serrulate; ciliate (capitate glandular); hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 20–30 cm long; 10–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis tuberculate (glandular); pilose. Panicle branches capillary; glandular; tuberculate; pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.6–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2.4–2.8 mm long; 0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.6–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hartley 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.