Sporobolus perrieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 8–14 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 1–2 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; oblong; 2–3 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; whorled at lower nodes; 0.6–1 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.9–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.6–0.8 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.9–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ovoid; 0.8–0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Camus 1994.

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