Digitaria cowiei

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 30–45 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–1.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; flexuous; unilateral; 2.5–3.5 cm long; bearing 20–24 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels 0.2–1.2 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.6–1.7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.1–0.2 mm long; 0.1 length of spikelet. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1.6–1.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.6 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 2011.

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