Sporobolus elongatus R.Br.

synonyms: Sporobolus pyramidalis [misapplied in Hawai'i]


loose-flower rattail, New Zealand timothy


Info

Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus etymology: Sporobolus = "seed thrower" referring to the seed being ejected from the pericarp
Species etymology: elongatus = "elongated" [Latin] refering to the inflorescence
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1915

Map

 Distribution of Sporobolus elongatus in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence
Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence
Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence
Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence
Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence
Sporobolus elongatus Inflorescence

Plant

Sporobolus elongatus Plant
Sporobolus elongatus Plant

Habit

Sporobolus elongatus Habit
Sporobolus elongatus Habit
Sporobolus elongatus Habit
Sporobolus elongatus Habit

Spikelets

Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets
Sporobolus elongatus Spikelets

Description

Habit: Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths herbaceous. Culms erect; 50-100 cm long; 3-4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 20-50 cm long; 1-3 mm wide. Inflorescences: Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle contracted; linear; 10-25 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; distant; 0.5-1 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glabrous in axils. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets: Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5-2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Fertile Spikelets: Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5-2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes: Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.5-0.7 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1-1.3 mm long; 0.5-0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse. Florets: Fertile lemma oblong; 1.3-2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Florets: Anthers 2; 0.5 mm long. Fruits: Caryopsis with free soft pericarp. Distribution: Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, and north-central.
(Description source: Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Available at https://powo.science.kew.org )