Digitaria jubata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; robust; 70–150 cm long; with prop roots. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; digitate; in several whorls; unilateral; 10–17 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–10 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis angular; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–7 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 1–8 mm long; scabrous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins; with capitate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3(–5) -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins; with capitate hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Paniceae. Bor 1993.

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