Sporobolus airiformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths indurate; yellow; woolly; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 15–35 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 2–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–8 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.8–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.5–0.8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.6–1 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; obovoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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