Digitaria perrottetii (Kunth) Stapf

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

Morphology General Habit

A loosely caespitose or solitary growing annual.

Morphology Culms

Culms 40–100 cm., ascending, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths smooth and glabrous, rarely loosely hairy.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule c. 1 mm. long, truncate, erose.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 2–10 × 0.5–1.4 cm., lanceolate to linear, flat, glabrous on both surfaces, often with a few bulbous based bristles near the base, scabrous along the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of 40–100 racemes, (2)3–8 cm. long, the inferior 20–50 in 4–6 whorls of 5–8 racemes, the superior 20–30 racemes solitary along a tall common axis, the racemes in the inferior whorls are conspicuously peduncled.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rhachis triquetrous, unwinged, scabrous, loosely hairy, at the base with a few bulbous based bristles, scabrous at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2-nate, 0.2–2.8 mm. long, triangular, scabrous, slightly broadened at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 1.7–2.2 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume absent. Superior glume somewhat shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, smooth, acute, slightly overtopping the glume.

Inferior

Inferior glume absent. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, 5-nerved, nerves equidistant, smooth, appressed hairy, hairs slightly overtopping the lemma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acute, pale to dark brown. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, 5-nerved, nerves equidistant, smooth, appressed hairy, hairs slightly overtopping the lemma.

Superior

Superior lemma shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acute, pale to dark brown. Superior glume somewhat shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, smooth, acute, slightly overtopping the glume.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual with coarse leaves, 1–1·2 m. high.

Morphology General Habit

Annual. Culms decumbent; 30-200 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded, or amplexicaul. Leaf-blades curled; 3-35 cm long; 3-20 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; in several whorls; spreading; unilateral; 2-11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 8-30 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; with scattered hairs. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2-2.3 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2-2.3 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75-1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous, or pubescent. 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; 5-7 -veined; puberulous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.2-2.3 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

Distribution

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

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

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

Morphology General Habit

A loosely caespitose annual.

Morphology Culms

Culms 40–100 cm., erect or sometimes ascending, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths loosely to densely hairy with bulbous based bristles.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule up to 4 mm. long, triangular or truncate, entire.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf laminae 5–25 × 0.2–0.5 cm., linear, flat, glabrous or with scattered bulbous based bristles on both surfaces, scabrous along the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of 20–80 very slender racemes, 3–8 cm. long, erect, with spikelets to the base, the inferior racemes in one whorl, the other racemes solitary along the well developed common axis.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rhachis triquetrous, unwinged, smooth or somewhat scaberulous, scabrous at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2-nate, 0.2–1.5 mm. long, triangular, scabrous, broadened at the ciliolate apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 1.3–1.6 mm long, oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume 3/4–4/5 of the spikelet, oblong triangular, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs very fine with an obpyriform apex. Inferior glume absent.

Superior

Superior glume 3/4–4/5 of the spikelet, oblong triangular, 3-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs very fine with an obpyriform apex. Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute to slightly acuminate, pale to dark brown.

Inferior

Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, 7-nerved, appressed hairy. Inferior glume absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute to slightly acuminate, pale to dark brown. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, 7-nerved, appressed hairy.