Digitaria thwaitesii

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long; 2–3 -noded; with 0.4 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 7–14 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 5–10 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with rounded midrib; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels 0.5–4 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -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; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous; with verruculose hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.75 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.25 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. Bor 1993.

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