Derivation
Setaria P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51 (1812), nom. cons.; from the Latin seta (a bristle), alluding to bristly inflorescences.

incrassata- Latin for thickened. Culm base swollen.

Published in
Abh. Konigl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 2: 122 (1891).

Common synonyms
Setaria porphyrantha Stapf

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Rhizomes short. Basal leaf sheaths yellow. Culms 20–200 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent or glabrous (rarely). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat or convolute, 10–60 cm long, 1–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate, filiform.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle spiciform, linear, continuous or interrupted, 3–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis, with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis pubescent or pilose.

Spikelets
Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Involucre composed of bristles, 2–15 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent, 8–10 in principal whorl, flexible, antrorsely scaberulous, glabrous. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension, ovate or orbicular, laterally compressed, gibbous, 2–3(–4) mm long, falling entire.

Glumes
Glumes thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, 33–66% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5–7-nerved. Lower glume apex obtuse or acute. Upper glume ovate, 70–100% of length of spikelet, membranous, (5–)7–9(–11)-nerved. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved, acute. Fertile lemma ovate, laterally compressed, gibbous, 1.5–3.5 mm long, indurate. Lemma surface punctate, rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute, indurate.

Continental Distribution:
Africa, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Western Australia: Gardner. Northern Territory: Central Australia South. Queensland: Port Curtis, Wide Bay, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae