Sporobolus recurvatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 71–143 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades curved; flat, or involute; 6.5–26 cm long; 1.8–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 28–64 cm long.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 19–49 cm long; 13 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 1–13.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 4–6.2 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5.9 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.3–6.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.8–5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 3.7–4.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.6–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.1–2.6 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Longhi-Wag 2002.

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