Sporobolus robustus

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 60–90 cm long; 2.1–3 mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; dense; 8–22 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.6–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.6–2 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; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA 1998.

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