Sporobolus farinosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths 3–5.5 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface puberulous (farinose); hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle 7–15 cm long.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hosokawa 1993.

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