Sporobolus wrightii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 90–250 cm long; 2–9 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–70 cm long; 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 20–60 cm long; 12–26 cm wide. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–2.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–2.1 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Tex 1993.

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