Digitaria basaltica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 70–90 cm long; 3–51 -noded. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.9–2.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–10 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pubescent; densely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 14–17; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 17–37 cm long; bearing 24–36 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 10–14 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing distant. Raceme-bases filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels 1–4 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–0.9 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2.1–2.3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 2.2–2.4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous; hairy between veins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.9–2 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous. Palea keels wingless.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 2011.

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