Setaria clementii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 10–40 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–12 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–10; borne along a central axis; appressed; flexuous; unilateral; 2–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–25 cm long; tip filiform. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 1–2 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial; irregular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.25–0.5 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.8–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9 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; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8–2.2 mm long; indurate; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate; 2-keeled. Palea surface rugose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl NSW 1993.

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