Sporobolus mirabilis

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms robust; 100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 25–50 cm long; 7–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 30–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Peru 1995.

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