Sporobolus aeneus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–50 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–15 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–7 -nate; whorled at most nodes; 4–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. 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 lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Parodi 1995.

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