Sporobolus consimilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect; 6–300 cm long; 2–8 mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–60 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 10–35 cm long; 1–4 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 2–10 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.3 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2.3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; mid-green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.3 mm long; membranous; mid-green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; quadrangular; 0.7–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA 1997.

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