Sporobolus metallicola

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long; 2–3(–4) -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 2.5–11 cm long; 1.5–3.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 5.5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.8–1.5 cm long. Panicle axis glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2–2.6 mm long; 0.8–1.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.6 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.3 mm long; 0.3–0.4 mm wide; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.5–2.2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Palea apex cuspidate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; without sulcus; 1–1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Longhi-Wag 2001.

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