Sporobolus discosporus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 5–20(–40) cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1–3 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 1.5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes; simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–1.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.4–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; orbicular; flattened (discoid); exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity; 1.1–1.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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