Sporobolus oxyphyllus

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Culm-nodes pallid, or purple, or black; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; ribbed; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 1–1.5 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–9(–11.5) cm long; 1.5–4.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous and papillose; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–10 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches smooth, or with occasional prickles; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.8–2.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.6 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.8–2.4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 1.8–2.4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long; pallid, or yellow, or green.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; laterally compressed; 1.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fish 2008.

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