Setaria obscura

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 50–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–35 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 5.5–17 cm long. Primary panicle branches sterile at the tips. Panicle branches terminating in a 5–8 mm long bristle.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 4–4.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 5 -veined; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–4.6 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface unwrinkled. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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