Setaria tabulata

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; 4–7 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.35–0.45 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 5–8 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 0.5–1.2 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 7.5–9 cm long; tip filiform. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 1.5–3 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.4–1.5 mm long; smooth, or scaberulous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; plano-convex; 3.5–4.4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–0.85 mm long; 0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 3.5–4.4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 11–13 -veined; sulcate; obtuse, or acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.1–2.3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate; 2-keeled. Palea surface rugose.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster 1993.

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