Sporobolus capillaris

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–40 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3–4.5 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2.5–12 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; effuse; 8–18 cm long; 3–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.7–1.9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.7–1.9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–1.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; orbicular; laterally compressed; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Patunkar 1993.

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