Sporobolus congoensis Franch.

Gramineae, T. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:2. 1999

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial with short oblique rhizome; culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, unbranched; basal leaf sheaths broadly expanded, flabellate, chartaceous and pallid or indurated, yellow and glossy, glabrous to densely pubescent, somewhat compressed, long-persistent and forming a swollen base to the culm; leaf laminas 6–22 cm × 3–10 mm, flat or folded, rarely loosely involute, glabrous to scaberulous or pilose on the surface, pectinate-ciliate on the margins with tubercle-based setae, acute at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle 10–20 cm long, pyramidal to ovate; branches in a succession of whorls, these progressively shorter upwards, glabrous, with inconspicuous long linear glands, the spikelets usually in pairs on the branchlets, these confined to the distal 1/2–2/3 of the primary branches.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2.5–4.5 mm long, dark green; inferior glume 1/2–3/4(4/5) the length of the spikelet, rarely less but variable even in the same panicle, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, nerveless or occasionally 1-nerved, glabrous, acute to acuminate at the apex; superior glume as long as the spikelet, lanceolate-elliptic, 1-nerved, glabrous, acute at the apex; lemma almost as long as the spikelet, lanceolate-elliptic; anthers 3, 1.3–2.6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Grain 1.5–2(2.4) mm long, elliptic, lightly laterally compressed.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 60-80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6-22 cm long; 3-10 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; pyramidal; 10-20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes (7-9 whorls); naked below. Panicle branches glabrous in axils. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3-4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3-4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 1.7-4 mm long; 0.5-0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute to acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 3-4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.4-4 mm long; membranous; dark green; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3; 1.6-1.7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.3-2 mm long.

Distribution

Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

Reference

Eragrostideae. FTEA.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial; culms 60–80 cm. high; basal sheaths broad, up to 1.5 cm. wide, flabellate, papery, or sometimes ± indurated yellow and glossy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades broadly linear, flat, 6–22 cm. long, 3–10 mm. wide, ciliate on the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle pyramidal, 10–20 cm. long; primary branches in 7–9 whorls, the spikelets loosely gathered about the upper 2/3 of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3–4.5 mm. long, glabrous, dark green; lower glume narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, 1.7–4 mm. long, 1/2–3/4 as long as the spikelet, rarely less, often varying considerably in the same panicle, acute to acuminate; upper glume lanceolate-elliptic, as long as the spikelet, acute; lemma similar to the upper glume but a little shorter; anthers 3, 1.6– 1.7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Grain ellipsoid, 1.3–2 mm. long.

Habitat

Wooded grassland; 1500–2300 m.

Distribution

K7 T4 T7 Congo (Brazzaville) to Rhodesiarare in South Africa