Sporobolus adustus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; involute; 10–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 13–27 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.5–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Bahia 1995.

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