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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sporobolus compactus
HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 12–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 1–5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 4–10 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; 1.2–1.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume orbicular; 0.3–0.5 mm long; 0.25–0.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.2–1.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.
FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.
NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.