Sporobolus fibrosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths distinctly ribbed; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2.5–16 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–4.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches not whorled. Panicle branches tangled; eglandular; smooth; glabrous in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.7–2.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Rhachilla extension 0.4–0.6 length of fertile floret; glabrous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.1–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FZ 1997.

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