Sporobolus aculeatus (Linn.) Peterson

Taxon 63: 1234 (2014).- Type: Löfling Pehr s.n., unknown (lecto- LINN: HL68-3).

Schoenus aculeatus Linn., Sp. Pl. 42 (1753);

Crypsis aculeata (Linn.) Aiton, Hort. Kew 1: 48 (1789).

Regional litterature: FWTA: 411 (1972); Fl. Sahara: 173 (1977); Fl. Mauritania: 426, fig (1991); Pl. Mauritanie: 292 (1998); Fl. Chad (2013).

Description:

* Caespitose annual, 2-20 cm long. Culms erect or geniculately ascending; lateral branches ample. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 1-5 cm long and 3.5 mm wide, glaucous, pilose, hairy on both sides, acuminate; ligule a fringe of hairs; sheaths loose and enlarged, glabrous on surface,.

* Inflorescence a capitate corymbose panicle, 0.4-0.9 cm long and 0.8-1.3 cm wide, subtended or enclosed by two sheathless blades. Primary branches accrescent to a central axis, with lateral stumps on axis. Spikelets sessile.

* Spikelets elliptic, 3-4.5 mm long, yellowish green, falling entire. Glumes unequal, scabrid or ciliate on keel, obtuse; lower glume lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long; upper glume lanceolate, 3-3.5 mm long. Lemma lanceolate, 3.5-4.5 mm long, acute; palea equalling or slightly longer than lemma, 0-1-veined. Anthers 2, 0.8-1.2 mm long. Caryopsis oblong, or obovoid, 2 mm long.                 

Distribution West Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, Chad

Distribution world-wide: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Egypt, southern Europe, Middle East, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, China.

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