Poaceae
Sporobolus

Sporobolus airiformis Chiov.

First published in Miss. Biol. Borana, Racc. Bot., Angiosp.-Gymnosp.: 277 (1939)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is NE. Tropical Africa to S. Arabian Peninsula. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Type
N1, “Buramo” to “Warieto”, Gillett 4898 (K syn.).
Morphology General Habit
Densely tufted perennial up to 35 cm high; basal sheaths woolly-tomentose with curly hairs on the margins, horny and yellow, eventually forming a cushion of coarse fibres, the woolly hairs retained within
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Panicle ovate, 5–8 cm long, diffuse, the branches capillary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 1.8–2 mm long; lower glume narrowly ovate to oblong-ovate, 0.5–0.8 mm long; upper glume narrowly ovate, 1/3–1/2 the length of the spikelet; lemma narrowly ovate, obtuse or subacute, as long as the spikelet; anthers 3, 1–1.2 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Grain obovoid, c. 1 mm long.
Distribution
N1, 2; Ethiopia, Arabia
Ecology
Altitude range c. 1350–1500 m.
[FSOM]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths indurate; yellow; woolly; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 15-35 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 2-6 cm long; 1-2 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5-8 cm long. Panicle branches capillary. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences 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.
Fertile
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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.5-0.8 mm long; 0.7-0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.6-1 mm long; 0.33-0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex cuspidate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8-2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3; 1-1.2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; obovoid; 1 mm long.
Distribution
Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.
Reference
Eragrostideae. TAC.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0