Sporobolus brockmanii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths papery. Culms 30–85 cm long; 1–1.25 mm diam. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 10–21 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–4 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.7–2.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC 1993.

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