Sporobolus sessilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long. Culm-internodes ridged. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tight; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or involute; 7–25 cm long; 5–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 14–30 cm long; 0.5–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate.

Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; straight; 0.2–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 0.3–0.6 length of upper glume; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth; glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1–2 mm long; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.9–2.1 mm long; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex entire; acute.

FLOWER Anthers 2 (usually), or 3 (exceptionally); 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; obovoid; laterally compressed; 0.4–0.8 mm long; light brown; striate, or rugose; truncate. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Simon 2001.

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