Setaria atrata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 60–250 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–60 cm long; 1–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 6–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3–9 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 3–10 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1–3 per spikelet; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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