Sporobolus lasiophyllus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–35 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–4.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 8–12 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3.2–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.2–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Peru 1995.

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