Setaria grandis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; robust; 200–300 cm long. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 20–30 cm long; 10–15 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1–3 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base; sterile at the tips. Panicle branches stiff; secund.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 10–25 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 4 in principal whorl; rigid; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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