Sporobolus pauciflorus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 5–12 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; convolute; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; 1–2 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.1 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3 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; ellipsoid, or ovoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Chev 1997.

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