TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials). [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13] See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.

SPOROBOLUS

DROPSEED, SACATON

Michael Curto

Annual, perennial herb
Stems generally ascending to erect, 2–20 dm, generally tufted, ± solid in X -section
Leaves generally basal; cauline few, ascending or curving away; distal sheath margin and collar glabrous or hairy; ligule < 1 mm, hairy or membranous, fringed; blade flat to inrolled, generally glabrous or scabrous, sometimes short-soft-hairy
Inflorescence terminal, also sometimes axillary, panicle- or spike-like, generally partly enclosed by sheath; branches spreading or appressed
Spikelet < 6 mm, generally pale to gray-green or purplish; glumes generally unequal, upper < or > lemma, membranous to translucent, 1-veined; floret bisexual, generally breaking above glumes; lemma texture generally like glumes, 1(3)-veined; palea < or > lemma
Fruit 1–3 mm, generally falling from floret, generally gelatinous when wet
Species in genus: ± 150 species: Am, Eurasia, Africa
Etymology: (Greek: to throw seed, from deciduous seeds)

Introduced

S. indicus (L.) R. Br.

SMUTGRASS

Perennial
Stems 1–several, tufted, 3–6(10) dm
Leaf: sheath, collar margins glabrous to scabrous; sheath bases intact or becoming frayed, brown, dull; ligule < 0.5 mm, hairy; blade 8–30 cm, 3–5 mm wide
Inflorescence generally terminal, 1–5(8) dm; base 0.5–1 cm wide; branches generally < 3 cm
Spikelet 1.5–2.5 mm, ± green or brownish; glume, lemma backs rounded; glumes ± unequal, lower 0.5–1 mm, ± awl-like, upper < 0.5 X lemma, ovate, obtuse to acute; lemma 2–2.5 mm, ovate, acute; palea < or = lemma; anthers 0.5–1 mm
Fruit ± 1 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Open, disturbed areas, roadsides, lawns
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Central Coast, South Coast, s Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: to se US, Caribbean, Mexico; native to tropical America
Synonyms: S. poiretii (Roem. & Schult.) Hitchc. misapplied
Spikelets, upper leaves generally covered by black fungus, hence common name.