Sporobolus creber

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–140 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 20–60 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–6 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.25–1.75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.4–1 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.6–1.2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.75 mm long; membranous; dark green, or grey; shiny; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.1–1.6 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.05 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong, or obovoid; exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity; 0.5–0.85 mm long; truncate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. De Nardi 1994.

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