Setaria verticillata (L.) P.Beauv.

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

Morphology General Habit

Loosely tufted annual.

Morphology Culms

Culms 50–100 cm. high or more, geniculately ascending.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle 2–15 cm. long, spiciform, linear to untidily lobed, often entangled, the rhachis hispidulous; bristles 3–8 mm. long, retrorsely barbed, tenaciously clinging.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm. long, elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume as long as spikelet.

Superior

Superior glume as long as spikelet. Superior lemma finely rugose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Inferior floret sterile, the palea minute.

Inferior

Inferior floret sterile, the palea minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma finely rugose.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Ascending annual up to 1 m. high

Ecology

Weedy places.

Distribution

Naturalised in Colombia.

Habit

Herb.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual up to 100 cm high; leaves broadly linear

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle contracted, spike-like, linear to untidily lobed, 2–15 cm long, often entangled, the rhachis hispidulous; bristles 3–8 mm long, retrorsely barbed, tenaciously clinging to clothing or fur

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long; lower glume 1/3–1/2 the length of the spikelet; upper glume as long as the spikelet; lower floret barren; upper lemma finely rugose.

Distribution

N1–3; C1; S1–3 tropical and warm temperate regions throughout the world.

Ecology

Altitude range 60–1800 m.

Vernacular

Dheg-dhegle, marabob (Somali).

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

Morphology General Habit

Loosely tufted annual; culms 10–100 cm. high or more, geniculately ascending.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades broadly linear, 5–30 cm. long, 4–16 mm. wide, flaccid, glabrous to loosely pilose; sheaths glabrous to pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle spiciform, linear to untidily lobed, 2–15 cm. long, often entangled, the rhachis hispidulous; bristles 3–8 mm. long, retrorsely barbed, tenaciously clinging.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 mm. long; lower glume 1/3–1/2, the upper as long as the spikelet; lower floret sterile, the palea minute; upper lemma finely rugose.

Figures

Fig. 127.

Habitat

Pathsides, old farmland, cattle kraals and other weedy places, with some preference for damp or shady sites; 0–2200 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 tropical and warm temperate regions generally

Morphology General Habit

Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 10-100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5-30 cm long; 4-16 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 2-15 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis hispidulous. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets 1-3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 3-8 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1-4 in principal whorl; flexible; retrorsely scaberulous; glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5-2.5 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5-2.5 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33-0.5 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 1-3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5-7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5-7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1-2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

Distribution

Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.