Sporobolus flexuosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 1–1.5 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–25 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; nodding; 10–30 cm long; 4–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; branching divaricately. Panicle branches flexuous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.9–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.9–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.9–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Tex 1993.

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