Hyalolemma P. M. Peterson, Romasch. & Soreng, 2025

Peterson, Paul M., Romaschenko, Konstantin, Soreng, Robert J. & Herrera Arrieta, Yolanda, 2025, Reticulation within Sporobolus: recognition of two new sections, Acinifolii and Thellungia, and a new genus, Hyalolemma (Poaceae, Chloridoideae, Zoysieae, Sporobolinae), PhytoKeys 261, pp. 99-123 : 99-123

Hyalolemma P. M. Peterson, Romasch. & Soreng , gen. nov.

Type.

Hyalolemma somalensis (Chiov.) P. M. Peterson, Romasch. & Soreng ≡ Sporobolus somalensis Chiov.

Description.

Cushion forming perennials, arising from stout, branching stolons densely clothed in imbricate cataphylls below, innovations extravaginal. Culms 6–30 cm tall, erect. Leaf sheaths open for most of their length, glabrous or with pustulate-based hairs, the hairs up to 3 mm long, hyaline; ligules ≤ 0. – 4 mm long, a line of hairs; blades 0.5–8 cm long, 1.2–2.2 mm wide, flat, stiff, glaucus, and pungent, sometimes with pustulate hairs scattered along the margin. Inflorescence a panicle 2–13 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, ovate, diffuse, branches capillary. Spikelets 1.2–2.2 mm long, 1 - flowered, lanceolate, laterally compressed to subterete; glumes shorter to as long as spikelet, hyaline; lower glumes 0.3–1.2 mm long, orbicular to narrowly oblong, apex obtuse to erose; upper glumes 0.7–2 mm long, 1 - veined, oblong, apex obtuse; lemmas 1.2–2 mm long, oblong to ovate, 1 - or 3 - veined, when 3 - veined the lateral veins only visible on lower ¼ to ½, hyaline, apex obtuse to truncate, often erose and minutely ciliate; paleas 2 - veined. Flowers perfect; lodicules 2; anthers 1–2 mm long, 3, purplish; ovary glabrous. Caryopses 1.2–1.6 mm long, elliptic, brownish with a free pericarp.

Etymology.

The name is derived from the Greek “ hyalos, ” meaning hyaline or transparent, combined with lemma (Greek).

Distribution.

Hyalolemma comprises two species found in northeastern Africa in Ethiopia and Somalia.