Sporobolus montanus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 4–8 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3.8–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.8–4 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple, or black; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; purple, or black; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 1.7 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; laterally compressed; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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