Digitaria gymnostachys

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 90–160 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–60 cm long; 7–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–21; borne along a central axis; the lowest whorled; radiating; straight; unilateral; 10–25 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–17 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below basal sterile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.3–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes two; similar; 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 obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; distinctly veined; glabrous; villous on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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