Sporobolus linearis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 16–55 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; 10–23 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle linear; interrupted; 8–18 cm long; 0.2–0.4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; distant; simple; 1–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.5–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline, or membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; membranous; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Lodicules 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis oblong; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Renvoize 2007.

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