Poaceae
Digitaria

Digitaria polyphylla Henrard

First published in Blumea 1: 97 (1934)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique to S. Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

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]

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

Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule c. 1 mm. long, truncate.
Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina
Leaf lamina 4–10 × 0.2–0.4 cm., linear, flat, smooth and glabrous, with scaberulous margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of 3–4 racemes, 2–8 cm. long, erect, whorled.
Morphology Leaves Rachis
Rhachis winged, 0.5 mm. wide, smooth with scabrous margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 2-nate, 0.5–2 mm. long, triangular, scaberulous, slightly widened at the top.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 2.1–2.5 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Inferior glume short, rounded triangular, nerveless, hyaline. Superior glume c. 2/3 of the spikelet, triangular, 3-nerved, hyaline, appressed hairy, hairs fine, white.
Inferior
Inferior glume short, rounded triangular, nerveless, hyaline. Inferior leaves with reduced lamina, soon withering; median and superior leaves crowded. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, with recurved margins, 7-nerved, nerves about equidistant, appressed hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pale brown. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, with recurved margins, 7-nerved, nerves about equidistant, appressed hairy.
Superior
Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pale brown. Superior glume c. 2/3 of the spikelet, triangular, 3-nerved, hyaline, appressed hairy, hairs fine, white.
Morphology General Habit
A rhizomatous perennial, rhizome branched, covered by hairy cataphylls.
Morphology Culms
Culms 20–40 cm., erect, nodes dark and glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Inferior leaves with reduced lamina, soon withering; median and superior leaves crowded.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Leaf sheaths glabrous, smooth.
[FZ]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly; hairy. Culms 20-40 cm long. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 4-10 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 3-4; digitate; erect; unilateral; 2-8 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; 0.5 mm wide; smooth on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels angular; unequal; 0.5-2 mm long; tip widened.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.1-2.5 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 2.1-2.5 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes two; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume ovate; 0.6-0.7 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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; with equidistant veins; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 2-2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.
Distribution
Africa: southern tropical and south.
Reference
Paniceae. FZ.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • 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 2025. 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 2025. 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