Digitaria lanceolata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms 30–40 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.8–2.4 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2.2–2.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes digitate; unilateral; 12–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.3–0.35 mm long; 0.1 length of spikelet. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2.2–2.4 mm long; 0.9 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; 7 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.2–2.4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1995.

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