Sporobolus mildbraedii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths herbaceous. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 6–17 cm long. Primary panicle branches moderately spaced (overlapping); whorled at most nodes (6–15 whorls); 1–2 cm long; naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.7 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; dark green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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