Digitaria petelotii

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending; linear, or lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous.

Racemes 2–5; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 10 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; scabrous on margins. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 3 in the cluster; 1 sessile. Pedicels unequal; smooth, or scaberulous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5 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 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins; 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; pubescent; hairy between veins; with verruculose hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; yellow. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Paniceae. Henrard 2001.

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