Dignathia villosa

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 5–20(–25) cm long; woody. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 2–4 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; spreading; oblong; sinuous; unilateral; 0.4–0.6 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 1.5–2.5 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; terminating in a sterile spikelet.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets barren; 1 in number.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; rostrate; 4–5.5(–7) mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; gibbous; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface villous; hairy generally; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; gibbous; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; indurate; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume surface villous; hairy generally; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 4–6 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. TAC.

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