Digitaria gardneri

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 5–6 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–6; digitate; unilateral; 2–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; with hairs extending 0.5 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume linear; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; purple; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Henrard 1995.

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