Sporobolus indicus

(L.) R. Br.
Common names: Smutgrass
Synonyms: Sporobolus poiretii
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 25. Treatment on page 122.

Plants perennial; cespitose, with tough fibrous roots, not rhizomatous. Culms 30-100 (120) cm. Sheaths usually keeled below, glabrous; ligules 0.2-0.5 mm; blades (6)10-30(50) cm long, 1-5 mm wide, flat, glabrous on both surfaces. Panicles 20-35(50) cm long, 0.3-2.2(3) cm wide, contracted, narrow, sometimes included in the uppermost sheath; primary branches 0.4-2.5(5) cm, appressed or spreading to 40° from the rachis, as long or longer than the adjacent internodes; secondary branches appressed, spikelet-bearing to near the base; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.1-1.8 mm, appressed. Spikelets 2-2.6(2.7) mm, plumbeous to light brownish. Glumes subequal, ovate or obovate, membranous; lower glumes 0.5-1 mm, often without midveins; upper glumes 0.8-1.6 mm, 1/2 - 2/3 as long as the florets, acute to obtuse, entire; lemmas 1.8-2.6(2.7) mm, ovate, membranous, glabrous, acute or obtuse; paleas 1.9-2.4 mm, ovate, membranous, glabrous; anthers 3, 0.5-1.1 mm, white, sometimes purple-tinged. Fruits 1-1.2 mm, quadrangular, laterally compressed, reddish-brown, truncate. 2n = 18, 24, 36.

Distribution

Pacific Islands (Hawaii), Fla., Puerto Rico, N.J., Tex., La., Tenn., N.C., S.C., Pa., Ala., Ark., Ga., Ky., Md., Mich., Mo., Miss., N.Y., Okla., Oreg., Virgin Islands, Va., Calif., Ill.

Discussion

Sporobolus indicus is a pantropical species. It commonly grows in disturbed places and open areas such as roadsides, pastures, and lake shores. In the Flora region, it is found on sandy or clay soils and is associated with many plant communities. The spikelets and upper leaves are often covered with hyphomycetous fungi (Bipolaris spp.); hence the common name of "smutgrass".

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Sporobolus indicus"
Paul M. Peterson +, Stephan L. Hatch +  and Alan S. Weakley +
(L.) R. Br. +
Smutgrass +
Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +, Fla. +, Puerto Rico +, N.J. +, Tex. +, La. +, Tenn. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Pa. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Ga. +, Ky. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Mo. +, Miss. +, N.Y. +, Okla. +, Oreg. +, Virgin Islands +, Va. +, Calif. +  and Ill. +
Sporobolus poiretii +
Sporobolus indicus +
Sporobolus +
species +