Poaceae
Digitaria

Digitaria abyssinica (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Stapf

First published in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1907: 213 (1907)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Peninsula Malaysia, New Guinea. It is a perennial or annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is has environmental uses, as animal food and a medicine and for food.

Descriptions

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit
A loosely caespitose perennial on a short, slender rhizome.
Morphology Culms
Culms 20–40 cm., erect from a creeping or decumbent base, glabrous, nodes dark, glabrous.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Leaf sheaths loosely to densely hairy from minute tubercles.
Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule 1–2 mm. long, obtuse to truncate.
Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina
Leaf laminae 4–8 × 0.5–1.2 cm., linear-lanceolate, flat, sometimes scaberulous on both surfaces, with scattered bulbous based bristles, scabrous along the crisped margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of 6–12 racemes, 4–9 cm. long, ascendent-patent, solitary along a well developed common axis.
Morphology Leaves Rachis
Rhachis triquetrous, scarcely winged, up to 0.4 mm. broad, smooth, with scabrous margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 2-nate, 1–3 mm. long, triangular to compressed, scabrous, not or scarcely broadened at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 1.8–2.1 mm. long, oblong-ovate, inflated.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Superior glume c.4/5 the spikelet, oblong-ovate, 3(5)-nerved, glabrous or rarely minutely pubescent, pale green, sometimes purplish tinged. Inferior glume c.1/4 of the spikelet, regularly triangular to rounded triangular, nerveless, glabrous, hyaline or purplish.
Inferior
Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-ovate with recurved margins, equidistantly 7-nerved, glabrous or rarely minutely pubescent, pale green or purplish tinged. Inferior glume c.1/4 of the spikelet, regularly triangular to rounded triangular, nerveless, glabrous, hyaline or purplish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-ovate, apiculate, pale to bluish green, inflated. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-ovate with recurved margins, equidistantly 7-nerved, glabrous or rarely minutely pubescent, pale green or purplish tinged.
Superior
Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-ovate, apiculate, pale to bluish green, inflated. Superior glume c.4/5 the spikelet, oblong-ovate, 3(5)-nerved, glabrous or rarely minutely pubescent, pale green, sometimes purplish tinged.
[FZ]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Creeping perennial with wiry rhizomes, forming mats
Morphology Stem
Stems up to 60 cm high, weak, decumbent below, the basal sheaths usually glabrous, rarely pubescent or villous; leaves broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2–25 racemes arranged along a short axis 1–9 cm long; racemes 2–11 cm long, the spikelets in pairs on a triquetrous rhachis with or without narrow wings
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets ovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic, plump, 1.5–2.5 mm long; lower glume a ± ovate membranous scale 0.1–0.8 mm long; upper glume 2/3 as long to as long as the spikelet, 3- to 7-nerved, glabrous, the nerves usually prominent; lower lemma 7-nerved, glabrous; fruit ellipsoid, in various shades of grey, light brown or purple.
Distribution
N1, 2; S2, 3 tropical Africa to South Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.
Ecology
Altitude up to 1750 m.
Vernacular
Domar, garguro, houla, sirdi (Somali)
[FSOM]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Naturalizada en Colombia; Alt. 1000 - 2000 m.; Andes.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Creeping perennial with wiry rhizomes, forming mats; culms 5–60 cm. high, weak, decumbent below, the basal sheaths usually glabrous, occasionally pubescent or villous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2–12 cm. long, 3–10 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2–25 racemes arranged on a short common axis 1–9 cm. long; racemes 2–11 cm. long, the spikelets paired on a triquetrous rhachis with or without narrow wings, sometimes the pedicels forked.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets ovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic, usually plump, 1.5–2.5 mm. long, mostly tinged with purple; lower glume a membranous scale, very variable in size, 0.1–0.8 mm. long, ± ovate; upper glume 2/3 to as long as the spikelet, 3–7-nerved, glabrous, the nerves usually rather prominent; lower lemma as long as the spikelet, 7-nerved, glabrous (sometimes obscurely puberulous on the margin, very rarely distinctly hairy–see note); fruit ellipsoid, in various shades of light brown, grey and purple.
Figures
Fig. 147.
Habitat
A ruderal species, widespread in the moister districts; it often forms a closed sward under grazing in the uplands, and is a serious weed of cultivated land; 0–2900 m.
Distribution
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 Cameroun to Arabia, southwards to South Africa
[FTEA]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit
A slender creeping perennial with culms up to about 30 cm. high.
[FWTA]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 1000–2000 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Cundinamarca, Huila, Quindío, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Herb.
[UPFC]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous, or pubescent, or villous. Culms decumbent, or rambling; weak; 5-60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2-12 cm long; 3-10 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 2-25; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2-11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1-9 cm long. Rhachis wingless, or narrowly winged; angular. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels free, or fused to each other; united below; unequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; 1.5-2.5 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; 1.5-2.5 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes two; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, or oblate; 0.1-0.8 mm long; 0.1-0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0-1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.66-1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3-7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5-2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; grey, or light brown, or purple; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea cartilaginous.
Distribution
Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: north-central. South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.
Reference
Paniceae. FTEA.
[GB]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; mat forming. Cataphylls evident. Culms decumbent; 30-60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample; intravaginal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs and reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5-2 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 6.8-8.2 cm long; 7-8.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins crenate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 2.6 cm long; glabrous. Racemes 7; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 5.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing lax. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels tip cupuliform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.9-2.3 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.9-2.3 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes two; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.5-1.75 mm long; 0.75-0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(-5) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; with equidistant veins; without cross-veins; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.9-2.3 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3; 1 mm long; brown.
Distribution
Asia-tropical: Papuasia.
Reference
Paniceae. Veldkamp 1997.
[GB]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Culms decumbent; 25-35 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 4-8 cm long; 6-8 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 7 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade margins smooth; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-8; digitate; unilateral; 3-5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1-3 cm long; glabrous. Rhachis angular; glabrous on surface; scaberulous on margins. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels scaberulous; ciliate; hairy on margins; tip discoid.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.8-2 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.8-2 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes two; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.25-0.3 mm long; 0.15 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.4-1.5 mm long; 0.75-0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins without cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; with equidistant veins; without cross-veins; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8-2 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; pallid, or yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea cartilaginous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3; 0.9 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Asia-tropical: Indo-China.
Reference
Paniceae. Veldkamp 2002.
[GB]

Uses

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0