Sporobolus curtissii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flexuous; flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 7–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; 4–7 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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