Dignathia aristata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 9–18 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear; 1–3 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; in a multilateral false spike; straight; unilateral; 2.5–3 cm long; 2 mm wide; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–8 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened. Raceme-bases pubescent; hairy on margins.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; narrowly proportioned; laterally compressed; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume subulate; gibbous; 10–12 mm long; cartilaginous (at base); mid-green, or purple. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough at apex; puberulous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume gibbous; 10–12 mm long; cartilaginous (at base); mid-green, or purple. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough at apex; puberulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2 mm long overall.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; plano-convex.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. COPE 2000.

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