Sporobolus disjunctus

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; interrupted; 10–25 cm long; 0.4–0.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels 0–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1(–2) fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.3 mm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.9–2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Palea surface smooth, or scaberulous. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2–3; 0.3–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ovoid; laterally compressed; 0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Simon 1995.

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