Sporobolus distichivaginatus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 35–50 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 5–7 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes; 0.5–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.8–3.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.8–3.4 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–2.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea readily splitting down midline; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; 1.5–1.6 mm long. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Pohl 1994.

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