Sporobolus microprotus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–14 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1–1.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; deciduous; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 0–0.2 mm long; 0–0.4 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1–1.2 mm long; membranous; grey; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.3–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; obovoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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