Sporobolus nealleyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; slender; 10–40 cm long; 0.8–1 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades spreading; involute; 2–5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf, or enclosed.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–10 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.6–2.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.1 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 0.7–1 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Tex 1993.

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