Setaria scabrifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 40–180 cm long; 3–7 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1–1.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 4–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; loose; 10–20 cm long; 1.5–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.1–1.2 cm long; sterile at the tips. Panicle axis angular; pilose. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 5–19 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1–3 per spikelet; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous. Pedicels oblong.

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

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

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 2–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Baldrini 1995.

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