Sporobolus minimus

HABIT Annual. Culms 3–6.5 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 1.5–2 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 1.5–2 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 0.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.7 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.65 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 0.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric (globose); 0.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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