GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Digitaria cognata

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes absent, or elongated. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 30–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 8–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary; straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 4–70 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous to villous. 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; glabrous to villous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Gould.

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