Sporobolus piliferus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 5–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–14 cm long; 0.3–0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.8–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; laterally compressed; 1–1.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India and Malesia. Pacific: north-central. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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