Sporobolus rigidifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode, or subequal to internodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear; convolute; 3.75–6.5 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff; light green. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 5–10 cm long; 0.4–0.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; simple; 0.7–1.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; subterete; obtuse; 2–3.75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 1–2 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels approximate; winged; narrowly winged.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; obovate; veined. Anthers 3; 1.25–2 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1–2 mm long; dark brown; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Veldkamp 2001.

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