Sporobolus subulatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Culms erect; 20–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–25 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal, or ovate; 4–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes (4–8 whorls); 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; 2.5–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.1–2.8 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.8 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.8–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.8–2 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.