Sporobolus gloeoclados

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 9–25 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 2–5 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 3–5.5 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches glandular; viscid.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 1.5–1.9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.3–0.6 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.7–1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; 1.5–1.9 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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