Setaria globulifera

HABIT Perennial. Culms robust; 120–180 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 12–22 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches sterile at the tips.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 8–10 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1 per spikelet; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 0.5 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 elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface unwrinkled, or rugulose (below). Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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