Digitaria gerdesii

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths hirsute. Culms erect; 50–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous.

Racemes 1–3; single, or paired, or digitate; flexuous; unilateral; 10–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.7–0.9 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 4–5 in the cluster. Pedicels angular; unequal; scabrous; glabrous; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.3–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 2.1–2.3 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with capitate hairs, or clavate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins; with capitate hairs, or clavate hairs; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.4 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Paraguay 1997.

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