Digitaria oraria

HABIT Annual. Cataphylls inconspicuous. Culms 40–70 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes digitate; unilateral; 8.5–14 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.4 mm long; 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; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with verruculose hairs. 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; with verruculose hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 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.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1995.

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