Digitaria lanuginosa

HABIT Annual. Stolons present. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms decumbent; 30–45 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaf-sheaths woolly. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences present in upper axils; different from terminal (cleistogamous).

Racemes 5–10; digitate; unilateral; 5–10 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.8–3.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.8–3.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.8–3.7 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; grey; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Henrard 1996.

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