Digitaria phaeothrix

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 70–200 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 16–47 cm long; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 20–30 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–15; digitate, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 5–40 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in threes, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3–4 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; with hairs extending 0.1 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume hairs tawny. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; prominently veined; pubescent; hairy between veins but central interspaces glabrous; bearing tawny hairs; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1993.

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