Sporobolus erectus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering. Basal innovations subterete. Culms erect; 55–58 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular (on keel); keeled; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 13–17 cm long; 5–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.8–3.5 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 lanceolate; 2.8–3.3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 1.7–2.1 mm long; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Mes0-Am 1995.

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