Setaria variifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base without a false petiole, or with a false petiole; petiole 0–1.5 cm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 15–20; borne along a central axis; paucilateral; 0.1–4 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–4 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 8–24 cm long. Rhachis subterete; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like. Spikelet packing abaxial; crowded, or contiguous; irregular.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate. Palea surface rugose.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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