Sporobolus hancei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–50 cm long; 0.8–1 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded; with 0.5–0.66 of their length below uppermost node. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 3–8 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 5–12 cm long; 0.7–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–4 -nate; 0.7–1.7 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; subterete; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 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 elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; grey and purple; suffused with last colour; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.5 mm long; red.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Koyama 1994.

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