Digitaria caledonica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long; 5 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 10–12 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–8; digitate; unilateral; 6–11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1.5–2.5 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with rounded midrib; scaberulous on margins.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Paniceae. Henrard 1993.

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