Sporobolus congoensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–22 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 10–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes (7–9 whorls); naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 1.7–4 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute to acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.4–4 mm long; membranous; dark green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.3–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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