Sporobolus ruspolianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 8–20 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 1–5 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.7–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.66 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; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein simple. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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