Sporobolus subtilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; scaly. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 4–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 4–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; not whorled, or whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches capillary; bearded in axils (hairs 4mm long).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Rhachilla extension 0.5–1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; fusiform; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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