Sporobolus linearifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 26–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 8–25 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 4–10 cm long; 4–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3–3.5(–4) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3–3.5(–4) 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; 3–3.5(–4) mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Renvoize 1997.

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