Sporobolus rigens

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; terete; 60–100 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 20–80 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea readily splitting down midline; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid, or orbicular; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Pat 1995.

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