Sporobolus pungens

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaves distichous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–8 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Eur 1997.

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