Setaria oblongata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–110 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 5–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; loose; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches sterile at the tips. Panicle axis pilose.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 3–6 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1 per spikelet; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 2–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1.8–2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Peru 1995.

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