Digitaria monodactyla (Nees) Stapf

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

Morphology General Habit

A tightly caespitose perennial on a very short rhizome, base surrounded by cataphylls and old leaf sheath remnants.

Morphology Culms

Culm 20–70 cm., erect, glabrous, nodes dark, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths glabrous to loosely hairy.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule up to 0.5 mm. long, truncate, cilate.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 2–5 × 0.2–0.3 cm., linear, flat, scaberulous and loosely hairy on the superior surface, loosely hairy on the inferior surface, smooth to scaberulous along the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of a single raceme, 4–19 cm. long, erect, terminal.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rhachis triquetrous, broadly winged, up to 0.8 mm. broad, conspicuously undulating and wings recurved, smooth to scaberulous, margin thickened, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2-nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, triangular, densely scabrous on the superior part, broadened at the apex, bearing a coronula.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2.7–3 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate, basally adaxially gibbous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume c. 1/2 of the spikelet, oblong-triangular, 3-nerved, the central nerve poorly developed, appressed hairy, hairs white or rufous, stiff, acute, overtopping the superior glume. Inferior glume absent or obsolete.

Inferior

Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, with recurved margins, 5-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs slightly overtopping the spikelet. Inferior glume absent or obsolete.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acute, basally gibbous, sharply keeled, pale brown. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, with recurved margins, 5-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs slightly overtopping the spikelet.

Superior

Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acute, basally gibbous, sharply keeled, pale brown. Superior glume c. 1/2 of the spikelet, oblong-triangular, 3-nerved, the central nerve poorly developed, appressed hairy, hairs white or rufous, stiff, acute, overtopping the superior glume.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30-100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; 4-20 cm long; 1-3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 6-20 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5-4 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5-4 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0-0.2 mm long; 0.1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 0.66-0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. 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; 5 -veined; pilose; bearing yellow hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 2.5-4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; keeled; keeled below. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

Distribution

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

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

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

Morphology General Habit

Densely tufted perennial; culms 30–100 cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades filiform or flattened, 4–20 cm. long, 1–3 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a solitary raceme 6–20 cm. long, the spikelets paired on a narrowly winged triquetrous rhachis; pedicels pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly elliptic-oblong, 2.5–4 mm. long; lower glume a tiny membranous scale up to 0.2 mm. long or suppressed; upper glume 2/3–3/4 as long as the spikelet, 3-nerved, pilose, gibbous at the base; lower lemma as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved, pilose with smooth stiff yellowish hairs; fruit ellipsoid, light brown, slightly gibbous and keeled at the base.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded drainage lines in wooded grassland; 1000–1500 m.

Distribution

T5 T8