Sporobolus tourneuxii

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 4–15 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 0.5–3 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 1–4 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; 1.8–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein thickened. 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: north, west tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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