Digitaria eylesii

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous, or hispid; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–2(–3); single, or paired; erect; unilateral; (8–)10–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.2–0.3 mm wide; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 0.5–2.5 mm long; puberulous; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose; with capitate hairs. Upper glume hairs white. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; with capitate hairs; bearing white hairs; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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