Sporobolus quadratus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery, or coriaceous. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; pyramidal; 6–18 cm long; 0.5–0.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.5–1.5 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.2–2.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.7 mm long; membranous; grey; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute (incurved). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; square; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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