Setaria gracillima

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–45 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–17 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 6–11 cm long; 0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.1–0.5 cm long; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; sterile at the tips. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles. Involucral bristles persistent; 1 per spikelet; 5–10 mm long; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous. Pedicels reduced to a stump; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.1–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.1 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate. Palea surface rugose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Ceyl 1993.

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