Digitaria sharpeana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–90 cm long; 4–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.1–0.15 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1(–2); single; unilateral; 9–20 cm long; bearing 50–120 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels 1–4 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.75–1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1.7–2 mm long; 0.8 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 elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown, or black; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 2011.

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