Sporobolus giganteus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 100–200 cm long; 3–6 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths without keel; striately veined; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 20–50 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 25–70 cm long; 0.8–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.6–3.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–2 mm long; 0.33–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.6–3.2 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 ovate; 2.5–3.1 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, 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.