Digitaria fujianensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 12–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches capillary; straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; 0.15 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy between veins. 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; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Liou 1996.

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