Sporobolus latzii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 45–95 cm long. Culm-internodes striate. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths loose; without keel; smooth; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades linear; flat; 8–16 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle terete.

Panicle open, or contracted; pyramidal; 11–13 cm long; 1–2 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 0.3–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 2–2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.4–1.8 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth; glabrous. Upper glume apex entire; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.2–2.3 mm long; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire. Palea readily splitting down midline; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex entire; obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Simon 2001.

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