Digitaria ekmanii

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 50–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–10; digitate; flexuous; unilateral; 7–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; 2–3 mm long (longer pedicel).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5 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; 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; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Man Gr US 1994.

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