| Synonyms: |
Digitaria acuminatissima subsp. inermis P. Goetghebeur Digitaria acuminatissima var. conformis Henrard Digitaria acuminatissima var. typica Henrard |
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| Description: |
A creeping annual. Culms 30–80 (100) cm., ascending from a creeping base, glabrous, nodes dark, glabrous. Leaf sheaths minutely scaberulous, sometimes loosely hairy. Ligule up to 2.5 mm. long, truncate to erose. Leaf laminae 5–12 × 0.3–0.7 cm., linear, flat, scabrous on both surfaces, with bulbous based bristles near the base, scabrous along the margin. Inflorescence composed of (2)5–14 racemes, 12–20 cm. long, erect to patent, 3–5 in a whorl, the superior ones often solitary along a short common axis, sometimes in a second whorl of 2–4 racemes. Rhachis triquetrous, broadly winged, up to 0.8 mm. wide, smooth with scabrous margins. Pedicels 2-nate, 0.5–3.0 mm. long, triangular, scabrous, scarcely broadened at the apex. Spikelets 2.8–3.7 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate. Inferior glume oblong triangular, sometimes slightly bifid. Superior glume c.1/2 of the spikelet, oblong triangular, 3-nerved, subglabrous to appressed hairy, hairs very fine, white, acute. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, with a flattened, curved acuminate apex, 7-nerved, appressed hairy, sometimes with a few bulbous based bristles. Superior lemma conspicuously shorter than the spikelet, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pale yellow to brown. |
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| Worldwide distribution: | tropical Africa |
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| Red data list status: | |
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| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 168 - 169. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 102. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 193. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 134. |