Sporobolus sanguineus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths herbaceous. Culms erect; 7–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 10–40 cm long; 1.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 20–35 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches moderately spaced (overlapping); whorled at most nodes (10–20 whorls); 2–6 cm long; naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 0.5–1.6 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; red; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; membranous; red; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.5–1.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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