Setaria basiclada

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–70 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.8–1.2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 4.5–18 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 2–4.5 cm long; bearing 9–20 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 8–20 cm long; tip filiform. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 1.5–6 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.4–0.5 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.1–1.3 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1.2–1.9 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2.3–2.8 mm long; 0.9–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 2.2–2.9 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; obtuse, or acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea reflexed at apex; with a basal protruberance; indurate; 2-keeled. Palea surface rugose.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1993.

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