Digitaria induta

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 24–30 cm long. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–13.5 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 5.5–8 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; pilose on surface; scabrous on margins.

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; 1.6–2 mm long; with hairs extending 0.5 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispid; hairy between veins. Upper glume hairs red.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2004.

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