Sporobolus macranthelus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 110–200 cm long; 3–6 mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 25–45 cm long; 4–7 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade midrib widened. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; 35–75 cm long; contracted about primary branches, or contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches profusely divided; naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets spreading, or appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.6–2.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–2.4 mm long; membranous; dark green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; quadrangular; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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