Digitaria clavitricha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–24 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; unilateral; 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on surface.

Spikelets appressed; in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.8–1.9 mm long; 0.9–1.1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.05–0.15 mm long; 0.03–0.06 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with clavate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; pubescent; with clavate hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8–1.9 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Pohl 1994.

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