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Synonyms: |
Digitaria melanochila Stapf Digitaria scaettae Robyns Digitaria scaettae var. glabra Robyns & Van der Veken Digitaria tricostulata (Hack.) Henrard Panicum puberulum var. tricostulatum Hackel Panicum thouaresianum Fluegge |
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Description: |
A loosely caespitose annual. Culms 20–40(80) cm., erect, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous. Leaf sheaths glabrous. Ligule c. 2 mm. long, rounded triangular, entire. Leaf laminae 3–20 × 0.2–0.6 cm., linear, flat, glabrous, sometimes scaberulous on both surfaces, basally often with a few bulbous-based bristles, scaberulous along the margin. Inflorescence of 3–7 racemes, 7–15 cm. long, a few together or all solitary along a short common axis, often pseudoviviparous. Rhachis triquetrous, broadly winged, up to 1 mm. broad, smooth with scabrous margins. Pedicels 3-nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, terete to compressed, minutely scaberulous, broadened at the apex, bearing a poorly developed coronula with cilia up to 0.3 trim. long. Spikelets 1.2–1.8 mm. long, ovate. Inferior glume absent. Superior glume 1/3–4/5 of the spikelet in length, ovate-oblong, 3-nerved, hyaline, glabrous or appressed hairy, hairs white, capitate-apiculate. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate with recurved margins, 5-nerved, hyaline, glabrous or appressed hairy. Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate, apiculate. dark brown. |
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Habitat: | On disturbed soils. |
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Worldwide distribution: | Cameroon to Kenya, south to South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,S |
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Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 144. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 35. As Digitaria melanochila 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. |
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