Sporobolus neglectus

Species category

Weed

Common name

puffsheath dropseed, small dropseed

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

FloretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.

Shape

OvalOval:
Broadly elliptic.
caryopsis

Size

  • Length 2–2.5 mm
  • Width 0.8–1 mm
  • Thickness 0.4–0.5 mm

Color

Brown (caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
) with dark mottling; lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
and paleaPalea:
One of the thin bracts of grass floret enclosing the fruit (caryopsis) that is located on the side opposite the embryo.
white.

Texture

Smooth and glabrousGlabrous:
Lacking hairs or pubescence.
; caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
surface undulating.

Lemma

Thin and papery about 25 mm long

Palea

Thin and papery; near same length as lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
.

Other structures

EmbryoEmbryo:
A rudimentary plant contained in a seed, usually consisting of a more or less differentiated axis and attached cotyledon(s).
has a dark band on margin.

Identification notes

CaryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
has mottled coloration and an embryoEmbryo:
A rudimentary plant contained in a seed, usually consisting of a more or less differentiated axis and attached cotyledon(s).
with dark pigmented scutellumScutellum:
A shield-shaped highly modified, single cotyledon in grasses (Poaceae) that absorbs nutrients from the endosperm and provides energy for germination.
. An individual photo was not taken of this species; use the image enlarger functionality.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet, Sporobolus spp.

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Sporobolus neglectus Nash

Synonyms

Sporobolus vaginiflorus (Torr. ex A. Gray) Alph. Wood var. neglectus (Nash) Scribn.

 Sporobolus neglectus . Florets with an embryo with a darkly pigmented scutellum.  From Left to Right: 1. Bottom.  Sporobolus neglectus  2. Bottom.  Sporobolus airoides  3. Bottom.  Sporobolus clandestinus  4. Top.  Sporobolus compositus  5. Top.  Sporobolus giganteus  6. Top.  Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Sporobolus neglectus. Florets with an embryo with a darkly pigmented scutellum.  From Left to Right: 1. Bottom. Sporobolus neglectus 2. Bottom. Sporobolus airoides 3. Bottom. Sporobolus clandestinus 4. Top. Sporobolus compositus 5. Top. Sporobolus giganteus 6. Top. Sporobolus cryptandrus.