Digitaria monodii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Cataphylls inconspicuous. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 25–55 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 6.5–14 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2.5–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels tip discoid, or cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.85–2.1 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1.4–1.65 mm long; 0.7–0.85 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 0.9–0.95 length of spikelet; membranous; (3–)5 -veined, or 7 -veined; with equidistant veins, or with unevenly spaced veins; with veins transversely connected at apex; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.85–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.9 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Paniceae. Veldkamp 1993.

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