Sporobolus viscidus

HABIT Annual. Glands raised crateriform. Culms erect; slender; 25–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glandular (on veins); glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins glandular (near base); ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15 cm long. Panicle axis glandular. Panicle branches glandular; viscid.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.9–3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea readily splitting down midline; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.8–2.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Sohns 2002.

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