Digitaria Haller

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

Morphology General Habit

Annuals or perennials

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades mostly linear and flat; ligule short, scarious or membranous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes, these digitate or borne upon an elongated central axis, rarely solitary, sometimes with secondary branchlets; rhachis flat or triquetrous, bearing the spikelets in appressed groups of 1–5 or more

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, flattened on the front, convex on the back; lower glume small or suppressed; upper glume membranous, as long as the spikelet, or much shorter and exposing the upper lemma; lower floret barren, represented by a prominently nerved membranous lemma as long as the spikelet (rarely much reduced), usually hairy, typically with the hairs forming stripes between the 1st and 2nd lateral nerves and along the margin; upper lemma chartaceous to cartilaginous, finely longitudinally striate, with its flat hyaline margins enfolding and concealing most of the palea, subacute to acuminate, rarely rostrate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis oblong, planoconvex in section, mostly acute to subacute.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial; leaves mostly linear and flat; ligule a short membranous or scarious rim

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes, these digitate or borne upon an elongated axis; rhachis flat or triquetrous, bearing the spikelets in appressed groups of (1–)2–3(–6)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate to oblong, elliptic, flattened on the front, convex on the back; lower glume small or suppressed; upper glume membranous, as long as the spikelet or shorter and exposing the upper lemma; lower floret barren, the prominently nerved lemma as long as the spikelet (rarely shorter), often hairy, usually with the hairs forming stripes between the 1st and 2nd lateral nerves and along the margin, the palea absent; upper lemma chartaceous to coriaceous, finely longitudinally striate, with its flat hyaline margins enfolding and concealing most of the palea, subacute to acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis oblong, plano-convex, acute to subacute.

Distribution

Some 260 species in tropical and warm temperate regions.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (110), or perennial (158). Rhizomes absent (221), or short (14), or elongated (32). Stolons absent (245), or present (23). Culms erect (126/220), or geniculately ascending (64/220), or decumbent (57/220), or prostrate (12/220), or rambling (9/220), or leaning (1/220); robust (6/31), or slender (22/31), or weak (3/31); 3-54.81-300 cm long; spongy (1), or firm (256), or wiry (5), or woody (2); without nodal roots (11/41), or with prop roots (1/41), or rooting from lower nodes (39/41). Culm-internodes unequal, the upper longer (1/1); terete (5/7), or elliptical in section (2/7). Culm-nodes constricted (3/4), or swollen (1/4). Lateral branches lacking (24/49), or sparse (13/49), or ample (19/49). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (258), or erect (5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (230), or a ciliolate membrane (31), or a ciliate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades filiform (7), or linear (242), or lanceolate (40), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1); herbaceous (262), or coriaceous (1); stiff (3), or firm (253), or flaccid (7). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (1/8), or evident (2/8), or conspicuous (6/8). Leaf-blade margins unthickened (1/16), or cartilaginous (16/16).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Bisexual (262), or dioecious (1). Inflorescence a panicle (5), or composed of racemes (258), or comprising only a few spikelets (1); terminal (259), or terminal and axillary (4); not deciduous as a whole (257), or deciduous as a whole (6); exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf (3). Peduncle persistent (262), or fracturing (1). Panicle open (5/5). Primary panicle branches not whorled (4/5), or whorled at lower nodes (1/5). Racemes single (26/258), or paired (72/258), or digitate (153/258), or borne along a central axis (88/258); not compacted (223/224), or in a multilateral false spike (1/224); side by side (176/177), or end to end (1/177); appressed (6/258), or erect (31/258), or ascending (210/258), or spreading (22/258), or radiating (4/258); unilateral (258/258); bearing few fertile spikelets (2/258), or many spikelets (256/258); bearing 2-31-120 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis wingless (168/258), or narrowly winged (61/258), or broadly winged (33/258); not appreciably folded (93/94), or folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets (1/94), or forming pockets (1/94); flattened (3/218), or angular (214/218), or subterete (1/218). Spikelet packing crowded (2/258), or contiguous (216/258), or lax (25/258), or distant (16/258); 2 -rowed (2/2). Raceme-bases brief (234/258), or filiform (24/258), or linear (2/258). Spikelets appressed (29/31), or ascending (1/31), or spreading (1/31); solitary (22), or in pairs (163), or in threes (98), or clustered at each node (40). Fertile spikelets sessile (6), or sessile and pedicelled (17), or pedicelled (241); 1-3-25 in the cluster. Pedicels free (258/258), or fused to each other (1/258); filiform (11/13), or linear (1/13), or cuneate (1/13); tip rectangular (10/79), or widened (18/79), or discoid (17/79), or cupuliform (41/79). Male inflorescence similar to female (1/1). Male spikelets resembling female (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (3). Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (81), or elliptic (147), or oblong (53), or ovate (25), or obovate (5), or oblanceolate (1); dorsally compressed; symmetrical (258), or gibbous (5); 0.8-2.551-14 mm long; persistent on plant (2), or falling entire (261). Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (249), or elongated between glumes (5), or elongated below basal sterile floret (8), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (1).

Sterile

Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (3).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (81), or elliptic (147), or oblong (53), or ovate (25), or obovate (5), or oblanceolate (1); dorsally compressed; symmetrical (258), or gibbous (5); 0.8-2.551-14 mm long; persistent on plant (2), or falling entire (261). Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (249), or elongated between glumes (5), or elongated below basal sterile floret (8), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes both absent or obscure (8), or one the lower absent or obscure (134), or one to two the lower present in some spikelets (1), or two (131); shorter than spikelet (191/252), or reaching apex of florets (65/252), or exceeding apex of florets (2/252); thinner than fertile lemma (245/259), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (14/259). Lower glume lanceolate (1/132), or elliptic (2/132), or oblong (11/132), or ovate (93/132), or orbicular (4/132), or oblate (27/132); clasping (9/9); 0.33-0.44-0.7 length of upper glume; hyaline (67/116), or membranous (49/116); without keels (61/61); 0 -veined (95/101), or 1 -veined (9/101), or 2 -veined (1/101), or 3 -veined (2/101). Lower glume lateral veins absent (100/132), or obscure (1/132), or distinct (31/132). Lower glume surface glabrous (131/132), or pubescent (1/132), or setose (1/132). Lower glume apex entire (129/132), or erose (2/132), or dentate (1/132); 2 -fid (1/1); emarginate (3/115), or truncate (51/115), or obtuse (67/115), or acute (28/115), or acuminate (1/115). Upper glume linear (2/259), or lanceolate (65/259), or elliptic (119/259), or oblong (39/259), or ovate (38/259), or orbicular (2/259), or oblate (3/259), or obovate (1/259); not gibbous (247/259), or gibbous (6/259), or spurred (6/259); hyaline (16/259), or membranous (243/259); with undifferentiated margins (258/259), or hyaline margins (1/259); without keels (227/227); 0 -veined (15/256), or 1 -veined (13/256), or 2 -veined (7/256), or 3 -veined (194/256), or 4 -veined (34/256), or 5 -veined (72/256), or 6 -veined (6/256), or 7 -veined (14/256). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (245/246), or ribbed (1/246); without cross-veins (2/10), or transversely connected at apex (8/10); meeting at apex (1/1). Upper glume surface smooth (257/259), or scabrous (2/259); glabrous (67/259), or puberulous (26/259), or pubescent (133/259), or pilose (39/259), or hirsute (3/259), or villous (28/259), or hispid (1/259), or setose (2/259), or woolly (1/259); with simple hairs (153/210), or capitate hairs (23/210), or clavate hairs (20/210), or verruculose hairs (17/210). Upper glume apex entire (258/259), or erose (1/259), or dentate (1/259); 2 -fid (1/1); emarginate (4/247), or truncate (7/247), or obtuse (37/247), or acute (198/247), or acuminate (10/247), or setaceously attenuate (1/247).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; with palea (16), or without significant palea (248). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (42), or elliptic (182), or oblong (39), or ovate (11), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 1.1 length of fertile lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (261), or cartilaginous (1); 1-6-13 -veined; without ribs (250/262), or ribbed (12/262); without grooves (260), or sulcate (2), or with 2 longitudinal grooves (2); truncate (3/252), or obtuse (19/252), or acute (220/252), or acuminate (17/252), or rostrate (1/252); muticous (262), or awned (1). Fertile florets bisexual (262), or female (1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (41), or elliptic (190), or oblong (29), or ovate (18); not gibbous (252), or gibbous (11); chartaceous (2), or cartilaginous (261); much thinner on margins; without keel (250/261), or keeled (11/261); 3 -veined (28/30), or 5 -veined (1/30), or 7 -veined (1/30). Lemma lateral veins obscure (6/6). Lemma surface smooth (199), or granulose (3), or scaberulous (1), or papillose (1), or striate (43), or reticulate (9), or punctate (8); unwrinkled (262), or rugulose (1); glabrous (262), or puberulous (1); hairy in lines (1/1); with clavate hairs (1/1). Lemma margins covering most of palea; eciliate (259), or ciliate (4). Lemma apex obtuse (2/244), or acute (159/244), or acuminate (45/244), or apiculate (45/244), or rostrate (2/244); muticous (259), or mucronate (3), or awned (2); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (13/13); membranous (4/4); truncate (5/5). Anthers 3 (84/84).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (40/40); ellipsoid (5/14), or oblong (3/14), or ovoid (5/14), or obovoid (1/14); dorsally compressed (2/6), or flattened (4/6); plano-convex (1/1). Embryo 0.33-0.4243-0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (17/21), or elliptic (4/21).

sex Male

Male inflorescence similar to female (1/1). Male spikelets resembling female (1/1).

Distribution

Europe (4), or Africa (112), or Temperate Asia (31), or Tropical Asia (56), or Australasia (47), or Pacific (21), or North America (37), or South America (81), or Antarctica (1).

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Morphology General Habit

Annual. Culms 15-100 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes digitate; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.2 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

Distribution

Africa.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of digitate racemes bearing paired spikelets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume as long as spikelet, (3)5-nerved, with obtuse hyaline apex, the superior shorter and 3-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma cartilaginous with flat thin margins enfolding and concealing palea, acuminate.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (18), or perennial (34). Rhizomes absent (46), or short (1), or elongated (3). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (32/37), or geniculately ascending (19/37), or decumbent (1/37); robust (1/7), or slender (6/7); 3-46.99-150 cm long; firm (38), or wiry (9), or woody (1). Culm-internodes unequal, the lower longer (1/1); terete (5/6), or channelled (1/6), or elliptical in section (2/6). Culm-nodes constricted (1/1), or flush with internodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (16/29), or sparse (7/29), or ample (10/29), or fastigiate (4/29). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (12), or linear (35), or lanceolate (1); herbaceous (47), or coriaceous (1); stiff (9), or firm (38), or flaccid (1). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (1/1). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (15/15). Leaf-blade apex muticous (44), or pungent (4).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle (46), or comprising only a few spikelets (2); terminal (46), or terminal and axillary (2). Panicle open (35/46), or contracted (9/46), or spiciform (4/46), or capitate (1/46). Spikelets appressed (1/1); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (47). Pedicels filiform (8/8); tip widened (5/5).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (1). Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate (46), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 1-5.735-15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus attached obliquely (1/1). Floret callus brief (47), or elongated (1); pubescent (3/17), or pilose (3/17), or bearded (11/17); obtuse (44), or acute (4).

Sterile

Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (1).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate (46), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 1-5.735-15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus attached obliquely (1/1). Floret callus brief (47), or elongated (1); pubescent (3/17), or pilose (3/17), or bearded (11/17); obtuse (44), or acute (4).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes distichous (46), or oblique (2); persistent; shorter than spikelet (18), or reaching apex of florets (15), or exceeding apex of florets (20); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (43), or gaping (5). Lower glume lanceolate (15), or elliptic (12), or oblong (6), or ovate (28), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 0.8-0.9948-1 length of upper glume; membranous (43), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5); without keels; 3-9-15 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure (4), or distinct (37), or prominent (7); without ribs (47), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous (4); glabrous (38), or pubescent (2), or pilose (4), or villous (1), or hispidulous (2), or hispid (4). Lower glume apex obtuse (11), or acute (23), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (3), or setaceously attenuate (2), or cuspidate (2); muticous (42), or mucronate (10), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (15), or elliptic (12), or oblong (6), or ovate (28), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 0.5-0.9638-1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (43), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5); with undifferentiated margins (31), or hyaline margins (12), or membranous margins (1), or scarious margins (4); without keels; 3-9-15 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (47), or ciliate (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (47), or ribbed (1). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (4); glabrous (38), or pubescent (2), or pilose (4), or villous (1), or hispidulous (2), or hispid (4); with simple hairs (7/13), or tubercle-based hairs (7/13). Upper glume apex obtuse (11), or acute (23), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (2), or setaceously attenuate (3), or cuspidate (2); muticous (42), or mucronate (9), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma lanceolate (17), or elliptic (15), or oblong (2), or ovate (24), or obovate (1), or oblanceolate (1); laterally compressed; membranous (9), or chartaceous (9), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5), or coriaceous (25); of similar consistency on margins (44), or much thinner on margins (4); without keel; 3 -veined (1/32), or 5 -veined (16/32), or 6 -veined (6/32), or 7 -veined (21/32). Lemma lateral veins obscure (3/13), or prominent (9/13), or thickened (1/13); without ribs (46), or ribbed (2). Lemma surface smooth (44), or scaberulous (5), or scabrous (1); without grooves (42), or with 2 longitudinal grooves (6); glabrous (3), or pubescent (9), or pilose (13), or villous (22), or plumose (1), or setose (1); with simple hairs (44/45), or tubercle-based hairs (1/45); without hair tufts (47), or with a transverse fringe of hair (1). Lemma margins involute; exposing palea (46), or interlocking with palea keels (2); eciliate (34), or ciliate (15). Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute (34), or acuminate (16), or cuspidate (2); without ornament (45), or scabrous (4); muticous (17), or mucronate (6), or awned (31); 1 -awned (31/31). Principal lemma awn straight (28/33), or curved (6/33). Palea embraced by lemma (44), or gaping (5); 0.9-0.9971-1 length of lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (11), or chartaceous (7), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (20), or coriaceous (8); 2 -veined (20/20). Palea keels smooth (47), or scabrous (1); eciliate (44), or ciliate (4). Palea surface glabrous (12), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (10), or pilose (18), or villous (9). Palea apex entire (8/21), or dentate (15/21); muticous (38), or with excurrent keel veins (2), or awned (8).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (10/10). Anthers 2 (2/19), or 3 (17/19).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (46/46); lanceolate (1/25), or ellipsoid (5/25), or oblong (4/25), or obovoid (19/25); plano-convex (1/1). Embryo 0.1-0.2715-0.5 length of caryopsis.

Distribution

Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (7), or Australasia, or Pacific (1).