Sporobolus apiculatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 25–47 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–32 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 7.5–12 cm long.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3.5–9 cm long; 1–2.3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 0.2–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.3–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.8 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4.3 mm long; 0.5–0.9 mm wide; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea readily splitting down midline; 3–4.2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.1–2.5 mm long; brown, or red.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.8–1.9 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Longhi-Wag 2002.

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