Sporobolus eximius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50–60 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3.5–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 7–8 -nate; whorled at most nodes; 4–6 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.05 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.8–4 mm long; membranous; light brown; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Parodi 1995.

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