Digitaria aristulata

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 5–15 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent, or bearded. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5; digitate; erect; unilateral; 2–4 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with rounded midrib; 0.8 mm wide.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–3 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; with verruculose hairs. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous; with verruculose hairs; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.3–1.5 mm long overall. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.