Digitaria pulchra Van der Veken

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

Morphology General Habit

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

Morphology Culms

Culms 30–70 cm., erect, slender, glabrous, nodes dark and hairy.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths glabrous or loosely hairy with bulbous based bristles.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule small, up to 0.7 mm. long, shortly ciliate.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 2–6 × 0.1–0.3 cm., linear, flat to involute, glabrous or with scattered bulbous based bristles along the minutely scaberulous margin, composed of (3)6–16 racemes, 4–8 cm. long, sometimes branched at their base, racemes and branches conspicuously peduncled, erect to appressed, solitary along a well developed common axis.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rhachis at the base subterete, subtriquetrous in the distal half, up to 0.3 mm. broad, glabrous and smooth, with an undulating, smooth margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2-nate, 0.5–3.5 mm. long, terete to subtriangular, broadened at the apex, sometimes bearing a poorly developed coronula of adaxial cilia.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2.2–2.6 mm. long, ovate oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume 2/3–3/4 of the spikelet, oblong-triangular, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, sometimes slightly undulating, acute, white to reddish brown. Inferior glume very short, truncate to bifid.

Inferior

Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, 5(7)-nerved, the two marginal nerves well developed, appressed hairy, hairs of two types: broad, stiff, white or reddish brown hairs concealing smaller, finer, white, strongly undulating (pseudoverrucose) hairs. Inferior glume very short, truncate to bifid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute, dark brown. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, 5(7)-nerved, the two marginal nerves well developed, appressed hairy, hairs of two types: broad, stiff, white or reddish brown hairs concealing smaller, finer, white, strongly undulating (pseudoverrucose) hairs.

Superior

Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute, dark brown. Superior glume 2/3–3/4 of the spikelet, oblong-triangular, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, sometimes slightly undulating, acute, white to reddish brown.