Sporobolus minarum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 36 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 7–17 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 13–16 cm long.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 12–17 cm long; 3.5–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes; 1–4.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 4.6–5.4 mm long; 1.1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.8–3.1 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.6–5.4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.9–5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea readily splitting down midline; 3.8–5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.8 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 2.6–2.8 mm long; dark brown; striate. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Boechat & Longhi-Wag 2002.

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