Sorghum almum Parodi
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Andropogoneae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench X S. halepense L.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
Columbus grass
Primary Disseminule Type
fertile spikelet, with or without 1–2 attached non-caryopsis-bearing spikelet(s)
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets heteromorphic, occurring in pairs of 1 sessile fertile and 1 sterile or staminate spikelet or a triplet of 1 sessile fertile and 2 sterile or staminate spikelets in the terminal spikelet unit. Disseminule usually consists of a fertile spikelet, rachis segment from beneath a sessile spikelet, and pedicel or pedicellate sterile/staminate spikelet.
Fertile spikelet narrowly ovate to elliptic, dorsally compressed, 5–6.5 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, shiny, light reddish brown to dark brown or black, consisting of one fertile floret and one basal sterile lemma. Spikelet callus pubescent.
Lower glume coriaceous, length of spikelet, its margins enclosing upper glume, 2-keeled near apex, with hairs 0.5–0.8 mm long. Upper glume coriaceous, surface pubescent.
Sterile lemma hyaline.
Fertile lemma hyaline, apex entire or dentate, awnless or awn twisted, early deciduous.
Fertile palea absent or minute.
Sterile/staminate spikelet on pubescent pedicel, well-developed, dorsally compressed, glumes chartaceous, 4–6 mm long.
Caryopsis brown to reddish-brown, 3–3.8 mm long, elliptic to obovate, dorsally compressed, embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis, hilum ± round.
Similar Species
Similar Species Comparison Chart
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, AUWP, NZWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI