Digitaria delicata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; digitate; unilateral; 3–6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; glabrous on surface; ciliate on margins.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 0.2–2 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 0.95 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins; with capitate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous; with capitate hairs; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.2 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Goetg 1997.

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