Setaria jubiflora

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–120 cm long; 5 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse, or ample. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2.5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–16; borne along a central axis; distant; appressed; flexuous; unilateral; 1–4 cm long; simple, or with branchlets at base of longer racemes. Central inflorescence axis 8–16 cm long; tip filiform. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 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; acute; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; clasping; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; pallid, or light brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate; rugulose; with distinct germination flap. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate; 2-keeled. Palea surface rugose.

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.