Digitaria maniculata Stapf

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

Morphology General Habit

A slender creeping annual, often stoloniferous.

Morphology Culms

Culms 10–30 cm., ascending or erect, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule c. 0.5 mm. long, truncate, shortly ciliate.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 1–2.5 × 0.2–0.4 mm., lanceolate to linear, flat, glabrous on both surfaces, scaberulous along the margin, with a few bristle hairs near the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of 1–2 racemes, 2–6 cm. long, erect, one subsessile, the other pedicellate.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rhachis asymmetrically winged, undulating, up to 0.75 mm. broad, smooth with smooth margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2-nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, triangular, smooth to scaberulous, broadened at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2.5–2.7 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume as long as the spikelet, oblong with recurved margins, 5-nerved, pale green to purplish, appressed hairy, hairs long, fine, with incurved apex, hyaline to bluish purple. Inferior glume c.1/4 or less than 1/4 of the spikelet, truncate or slightly bilobed, nerveless, hyaline.

Inferior

Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong with recurved margins, 7-nerved, pale green to purplish, appressed hairy and with 2 basal bundles of long, white, finely papillose hairs. Inferior glume c.1/4 or less than 1/4 of the spikelet, truncate or slightly bilobed, nerveless, hyaline.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pale green to bluish green. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong with recurved margins, 7-nerved, pale green to purplish, appressed hairy and with 2 basal bundles of long, white, finely papillose hairs.

Superior

Superior lemma shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pale green to bluish green. Superior glume as long as the spikelet, oblong with recurved margins, 5-nerved, pale green to purplish, appressed hairy, hairs long, fine, with incurved apex, hyaline to bluish purple.

Morphology General Habit

Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 10-30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1-2.5 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1-2; single, or paired; unilateral; 2-6 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.5-0.75 mm wide; smooth on margins. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 0.5-2.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5-2.7 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.5-2.7 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes two; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; clasping; 0.2-0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or truncate. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy between veins; with verruculose hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; pilose; hairy between veins; with verruculose hairs; with dorsal tufts of hair (at base); 2 hair tufts in all; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2-2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

Distribution

Africa: west-central tropical, southern tropical, and south.

Reference

Paniceae. FZ.