Digitaria blakei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 36–65 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.6–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–9; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–6 cm long; bearing 36–42 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 2–5 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels 0.3–2 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.3 mm long; 0.2 length of spikelet; 1 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; 3 -veined; glabrous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Austral. ms 2015.

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