Sporobolus durus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform to linear; convolute; 30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; linear; 5–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: middle Atlantic ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1997.

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