Phacelurus digitatus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 80–130 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades (16–)20–75 cm long; (0.5–)3–7 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade midrib widened. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–7; single, or digitate, or borne along a central axis; 13–32 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–15 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; glabrous on surface. Rhachis internodes columnar; 15–22 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear, or columnar; semiterete; 5–12 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus square, or oblong; 1–2.5 mm long; truncate. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10–20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus square; base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel. Palea hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Fl Turk.

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