Digitaria dolleryi

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or decumbent; 20–40 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–2.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–5 cm long; bearing 22–26 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 1–3 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 1–5 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.3 mm long; 0.9–1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.7 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong; 1.9–2 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1.8–2.1 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.8–2.1 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 2011.

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