Poaceae
Sporobolus

Sporobolus × townsendii (H.Groves & J.Groves) P.M.Peterson & Saarela

First published in Taxon 63: 1236 (2014)
This hybrid is accepted
The native range of this hybrid is Spontaneous hybrid between a native and introduced taxon originating in W. Europe. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the temperate biome. The hybrid formula is S. alterniflorus × S. maritimus.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; fleshy. Culms erect; 30-130 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1-2 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; 6-30 cm long; 4-12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; hardened.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 2-9; digitate, or borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 4-15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0-10 cm long. Rhachis angular; smooth on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 10-20 mm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 12-18 mm long; 2-2.5 mm wide; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 12-18 mm long; 2-2.5 mm wide; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 0.6-0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 12-18 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 1-3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma oblong; 12-18 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 1-3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 5-7.9 mm long; indehiscent. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; linear. Embryo 1 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.
Distribution
Europe: northern, central, and southwestern. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.
Reference
Cynodonteae. CEH.
[GB]

Common Names

English
Common Rice-grass

Sources

  • 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 Living Collection Database

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/

  • 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