Digitaria, Homopholis and Walwhalleya (ms.) March 2013

                                                                                        DIGITARIA    

B.K.Simon, C.M.Weiller & R.D.Webster

29. Digitaria Hall., Hist. Stirp. Helv. 2: 244 (1768), from the Latin digitus (finger), alluding to radiating inflorescence branches.

Type: Panicum sanguinale L. = Paspalum sanguinale Lamk. = D. sanguinalis (L.) Scop.

Panicum sect. Digitaria Trin., Diss. Alt. 48, 76 (1826); Panicum series Digitarieae Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 464 (1878); Paspalum sect. Digitaria Hook. f., Fl. Br. India 7: 10, 13 (1896); Panicum subg. Digitaria Hack., Oesterr. Bot. Z. 51: 290 (1901); Paspalum subg. Digitaria A.Camus, Not. Syst. 2: 216 (1912); from the Latin digitus (finger), alluding to radiating inflorescence branches. Syntherisma Walt., Fl. Carol. 76 (1788), Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 188 (1906). T: S. praecox Walt. = D. sanguinalis (L.) Scop. Trichachne Nees, Agrost. Bras. 85 (1829); Panicum sect. Trichachne Steud., Syn. I: 38 (1853); Panicum series Trichachne Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 464 (1878); Digitaria subsect. Trichachne Stapf in D.Prain, Fl. Trop. Africa 9: 424 (1919); Digitaria sect. Trichachne Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 851, 866 (1950). T: T. sacchariflora (Raddi) Nees = D. sacchariflora (Raddi) Henr. Leptoloma Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 192 (1906); Digitaria subg. Leptoloma Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 839, 849 (1950). T: L. cognata (Schult.) Chase = D. cognata (Schult.) Pilg.

Valota Adans., Fam. Pl. 2: 495 (1763). Type species: Andropogon insularis L. = V. insularis Chase = T. insularis Nees = D. insularis (L.) Ekman.

Annual or perennial, rhizomatous or without rhizomes, stoloniferous or without stolons. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule membranous (occasionally with a fringe), acute to truncate; blades flat to involute, hairy or glabrous, smooth or scabrous. Inflorescence digitate or subdigitate or on a distinct central axis or consisting of a single raceme, a panicle or a raceme (sometimes digitate or subdigitate), exserted at maturity or not fully exserted (D. ammophila). Racemes devoid of spikelets at base and long and rigid or bearing spikelets to base and not long and rigid. Apices discoid or truncate or cupuliform. Spikelets with disarticulation at the base of the spikelet, solitary or paired or in 3's, dorsally compressed, lanceolate to elliptic. Glumes 1 (only in D. orbata and D. blakei) or 2, very unequal (except for D. breviglumis), awnless, rounded on the back; lower glume triangular to oblong, 0–1 nerved, hyaline to membranous, smooth, hairy or glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded, muticous; upper glume linear to lanceolate, 1–5 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, puberulent to setose, acuminate to truncate or cleft, muticous. Lower floret sterile; lemma not keeled, hyaline to membranous, hairy or glabrous, with indumentum overtopping or shorter than the spikelet, with a glabrous or hairy first internerve space, narrower to wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 3–11 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret bisexual, overtopping to shorter than the lower floret; lemma yellow or brown or black, chartaceous to cartilaginous, smooth to muricate, lanceolate to obovate, usually rounded on the back, obscurely nerved, margins flat and noticeably thinner than body, glabrous, base without special modifications, apically rounded to acuminate, muticous or mucronate; palea chartaceous to cartilaginous. Hilum short. x = 9, 15, and 17. 2n = 18, 30, 36, 45, 54, 60, 70, 72, 76, and 108.

A large cosmopolitan genus of about 220 species; 47 species in Australia, 35 native and 12 introduced. The genus is extremely variable in inflorescence, relative length of spikelet scales, and spikelet indumentum; the latter display different combinations of appressed pubescence, glassy bristles and marginal cilia within the same species or even between the two members of a spikelet pair. Despite this the overall facies of the spikelet is surprisingly uniform, and the genus is seldom difficult to recognise (Clayton and Renvoize 1986). The classic world revision of Henrard (1950) is regarded as the foundation work in the genus, although it is basically a thorough review of the all the type specimens that Henrard had access to at the time and includes clear illustrations of the spikelet of the type specimen when possible, an indication of synonymy and the text of the original description. However it does not take into consideration intra-specific variability nor does it attempt to provide standard comparable descriptions of all species. Henrard divides the genus into four subgenera Solitaria, Setariopsis, Leptoloma and Digitaria (as Eudigitaria), with only the latter in Australia; subgenus Digitaria is classified into 32 sections and these are modified in various ways by other workers (Vedkamp 1973 and Webster 1983) with some of Henard's sections being almagamated. The sections of Webster are followed here and of the 10 sections in Australia, 2 are naturalised (Aequinerve, Erianthae and Glabratae), 2 are endemic (Parviflorae, Pennatae), 1 has an endemic species D. brownii in a section with mainly New World species (Trichachne), 1 has 2 endemic species D. gibbosa and D. sharpeana  in a section with another African species and 3 have both native and naturalised species (Digitaria, Glabratae, Ischaemum). Some of the sections in Digitaria are thought be be monopyhletic and others not (Goetghebeur & Van der Veken 1989, Flora Zambesiaca) but this has not been tested by phylogenetic methods.

D.K.Hughes, The genus Panicum of the Flora Australiensis. II. Digitaria. Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 308–314 (1923); J.T.Henrard, Monograph of the genus Digitaria (1950), Universitaire Pers Leiden, Leiden; J.W. Vickery. Digitaria in R.H. Anderson, Flora of New South Wales 19(1): 83–104 (1961); R.D.Webster, A revision of the genus Digitaria Haller (Paniceae, Poaceae) in Australia. Brunonia 6: 131–216 (1983); J.B.Hacker, Inheritance of stolon development, rhizome development and setigerous lemmas in the Digitaria milanjiana complex, and it taxonomic significance, Austr. J. Bot. 31: 357–369 (1983); J.F.Veldkamp, A revision of Digitaria Haller (Gramineae) in Malesia. Blumea 21:1–80 (1973); R.D.Webster, Digitaria in Austral. Paniceae 35–70 (1987); W.J. Crins, Digitaria in The genera of Paniceae (Gramineae: Panicoideae) in the Southeastern United States, Journal Arn. Arboret. Supp. Ser. 1:198–205 (1991).

1 Racemes usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid
2 Spikelets up to 3.5 mm long (excluding protruding hairs if present)
3  Spikelets with long silky hairs
4  Lower glume absent or to 0.15 mm long	1. D. papposa
4:  Lower glume more than 0.3 mm long
5   Lower lemma without marginal stiff bristles; spikelets c. 2.5 mm long	2. D. ammophila
5:   Lower lemma with marginal stiff bristles; spikelets 3-3.5 mm long	3. D. hystrichoides
3:  Spikelets glabrous or if hairy, hairs not long and silky
6    Spikelets glabrous	4. D. nematostachya
6:  Spikelets hairy
7  Spikelets slightly hairy; lower glume 0.3-0.4 mm long; lower lemma 5-nerved	5. D. benthamiana
7:   Spikelets discernibly hairy; lower glume 0.8-0.9 mm long; lower lemma 7-nerved	6. D. basaltica
2:  Spikelets 3.8‑6.9 mm long
8  Spikelets 5.2–6.9 mm long; most racemes branched	7. D. porrecta
8: Spikelets 3.8–5.1 mm long; racemes simple
9   Upper glume 3-nerved ; lower lemma with the first internerve space wider than the second, and glabrous	8. D. divaricatissima
9:  Upper glume 5-7-nerved ; lower lemma with equal internerve spacing and first internerve space hairy	9. D. coenicola
1:  Racemes usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid
10 Lower lemma with two prominent hair tufts on either side of midrib	10. D. hubbardii
10:  Lower lemma without hair tufts
11  Spikelets with long hairs exceeding spikelet
12  Annual; inflorescence of 1 raceme	11. D. gibbosa
12:  Perennials; inflorescence of more than 1 raceme
13 Lower glume c. ¼ spikelet length, separated  to some degree from upper glume; spikelet hairs overtopping the spikelet only slightly	12. D. brownii
13: Lower glume absent or a minute hyaline rim, adjacent to upper glume; spikelet hairs overtopping the spikelet apex for some distance	13. D. leucostachya
11:  Spikelets glabrous or hairy, if latter hairs not exceeding spikelet
14   Racemes digitate or subdigitate or inflorescence with a central axis usually shorter than racemes
15   Inflorescence with 1‑3 racemes
16  Spikelets usually arranged in 3's
17  Spikelets usually 2 mm or more in length
18 Raceme axes not winged; upper glume the length of the lower lemma	14. D. oraria
18: Raceme axes winged; upper glume shorter than the lower lemma
19  Pedicels with a ring of rigid hairs at apex	15. *D. ternata
19:  Pedicels without a ring of rigid apical hairs	16. *D. ischaemum
17:  Spikelets usually less than 2 mm long
20  Plant usually a stoloniferous perennial; upper lemma pale to yellow at maturity; upper glume 5-7-nerved	17. D. longiflora
20:  Plant annual; upper lemma brown to black at maturity; upper glume 3-nerved	18 *D. violascens
16:  Spikelets arranged in pairs
21 Pedicelled spikelets with rigid bristles	19. D. ctenantha
21:  Pedicelled spikelets without bristles
22  Tufted and erect; lower glume if present, truncate
23   Racemes usually single (rarely 2), at least 15 cm long	20. D. sharpeana
23:  Racemes 2-3, to 10 cm long
24   Annual, with spikelets only slightly heteromorphic	21. D. stenostachya
24: Perennial with short woolly rhizomes and hairy cataphylls; spikelets distinctly        heteromophic	22. D. veldkampiana
22:  Creeping; lower glume if present, acute
25 Mat‑forming perennials with cataphylls
26 Spikelets less than 2.9 mm long; upper glume 1‑2.1 mm long	23. *D. didactyla
26:  Spikelets more than 2.9 mm long; upper glume more than 2.1 mm long	24. *D. aequiglumis
25:  Loose stoloniferous annuals without cataphylls
27  Spikelets 0.6‑0.7 mm wide; lower glume absent or less than 0.2 mm long	25. D. radicosa
27: Spikelets 0.7‑1.1 mm wide; lower glume 0.2‑0.8 mm long	26. *D. ciliaris
15:  Inflorescence usually with 4 or more racemes
28  Spikelets less than 2 mm long	18. *D. violascens
28:  Spikelets more than 2 mm long
29 Perennials
30  Nerves of lower lemma with minute spines	27. *D. milanjiana
30:  Nerves of lower lemma smooth	28. *D. eriantha
29:  Annuals
31   Spikelets of each spikelet pair different or similar and bristled	29. D. bicornis
31:  Spikelets of each pair similar and not bristled
32  Upper glume less than 1/4 spikelet length	30. D. setigera
32:  Upper glume at least 1/2 spikelet length
33  Nerves of lower lemma  with minute spines	31 *D. sanguinalis
33: Nerves of lower lemma smooth	26. *D. ciliaris
14:  Racemes on a distinct central axis, sometimes up to the length of the racemes, not digitate or subdigitate (rarely appearing subdigitate in D. baileyi)
34 Upper glume less than 1/2 spikelet length
35  Lower lemma c. 1/2 as long as spikelet	32.  D. blakei
35:  Lower lemma ± as long as spikelet
36  Inflorescence with few branches, sometimes 1
37 Inflorescence with 1-4 branches; lower lemma 5 nerved; upper glume nerveless; leaf blades glabrous to slightly hairy; sometimes with many culm branches fascicled at nodes	33.  D. breviglumis
37: Inflorescence with at least 4 branches; lower lemma 7 nerved; upper glumes 3-nerved; leaf-blades sometimes velvety; inflorescence culm branches never fascicled at nodes	34.   D. diminuta
36: Inflorescence with many branches, at least 8
38  Lower glume absent	35.  D. orbata
38: Lower glume present	36.  D. fumida
34:  Upper glume more than 1/2 spikelet length
39: Spikelets glabrous
40  Upper lemma relatively smooth and reflective
41  Spikelets 1.8-2 mm long	37. *D. abyssinica
41: Spikelets c. 1.5 mm long	38. D. diffusa
40: Upper lemma muricate and non‑reflective
42  Spikelets 1.2‑1.5 mm long; habit decumbent	39. D. minima
42: Spikelets from 1.6 mm long; habit erect
43  Upper glume ½‑4/5 spikelet length	40. D. ramularis
43: Upper glume subequal to spikelet length	41. D. parviflora
39: Spikelets hairy
44  Lowermost raceme branch commonly exceeding 9 cm;	42. D. lanceolata
44:  Lowermost raceme branch not exceeding 9 cm;
45  Spikelets with short brown hairs, forming a web
46 Spikelets 2–2.3 mm long	43. D. dolleryi
46: Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long	44. D. imbricata
45:  Spikelet hairs shorter, not forming a web
47 Spikelets 2.4-2.5 mm long	45. D. baileyi
47: Spikelets up to 2 mm long
48 Spikelets 20–24 on a typical lowermost primary branch; upper glume 5-nerved	46. D. cowiei
48: Spikelets 40–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch; upper glume 3-nerved	47. D. velutina

1. Digitaria papposa (R. Br.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 160, 170 (1812)

Panicum papposum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810); Leptoloma papposa (R.Br.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 314 (1923). T: Arnhem South Bay, [N.T.], R.Brown Iter Australiense 6120; lecto: K (photo BRI); isolecto BRI, E, fide D.K.Hughes, loc. cit.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 518 (1950).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–70 cm tall, 6–11 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 2–4.8 mm long; blades flat, 9–27 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, smooth to scabrous. Inflorescence 10–23 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 10–20, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 12–22 cm long. Central axis 8-13 cm long. Pedicels 1–30 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 16–26 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long silky hairs), paired or in 3's, elliptic, 1.9–2.5 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide; lower glume 0.2–0.4 mm long, triangular to oblong, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, hairy; upper glume 1.9–2.5 mm long, as long as spikelet, elliptic, 3–5 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, setose, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins ciliate, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.7–2.3 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, acute, apiculate.

Endemic. Tropical W.A, N.T. and Qld. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and coastal grasslands. Flowering Feb. to July. Map 1170.

W.A.: Lily Ck, Kunanurra, A.A.Mitchell 6017 (BRI, CANB, PERTH). N.T.: Little Lagoon, Groote Eylandt, R.L.Specht 226 (BRI, CANB, PERTH); Bickerton Is, South Bay, I.Cowie 3871 & G.Leach (BRI, DNA); BHP Airstrip, Arnhem Land, P.K.Latz 2951 (BRI, CANB, DNA, NT, PERTH). Qld: Ravenswood, S.T.Blake 14857 (BRI); Almaden-Petford Rd, 8 km from Almaden, B.K.Simon 3549 & J.R.Clarkson (BRI, CANB).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D. hystrichoides, D. nematostachya, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. Differs from D. porrecta, D, divaricatissima and D. coenicola by its smaller spikelets, from D. nematostachya and D. benthamiana by having silky hairy spikelets and from D. ammophila and D. hystrichoides by the lower glume being absent or extremely small.

2. Digitaria ammophila (F. Muell.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 313 (1923)

Panicum ammophilum F.Muell., Trans. & Proc. Victorian Inst. Advancem. Sci. 1: 46 (1855), nom. illeg. non. Steud. (1854); Panicum divaricatissimum R.Br. var. ammophilum F.Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Murray R., F.Mueller s.n., 1877; holo: MEL; iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

D. ammophila (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Hughes var. macrolepis Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 810 (1950). T: near Geera, Mitchell District, Qld, 6 Dec. 1935, S.T.Blake 10380; holo: L; iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Panicum divaricatissimum var. glaberrimum Benth. in part, Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Darling Downs, H.Law; syn: K n.v.; iso: BRI.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 37 (1950); N.G.Walsh in N.G.Walsh & T.J.Entwisle (eds), Fl. Victoria 2: 607, fig. 123f-g (1994); J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 438, fig.368 (2006).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy (velutinous); ligule 1.4–6 mm long, blades flat, 4–16 cm long, 3–7.5 mm wide, hairy, smooth. Inflorescence 12–30 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 5–15, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 4–23 cm long. Central axis 7–12 cm long. Pedicels 1–1.6 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 10–28 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long silky hairs), paired, elliptic, 1.8–2.7 mm long, 0.8–0.9 mm wide; lower glume 0.3–1.7 mm long, ovate, membranous to chartaceous, smooth (faintly pitted), glabrous, acute or cleft or obtuse; upper glume 1.8–2.8 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved (occasionally with poorly developed lateral nerves), with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous or velutinous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.8–2.9 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins ciliate, 5–7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.8–2.8 mm long, brown, cartilaginous to indurate, smooth, lanceolate to elliptic, apically rounded to acute, apiculate. Silky Umbrella Grass.

Endemic. A widespread variable species in arid areas of all mainland States. Semi-arid shrub woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, eucalypt shrublands, and arid tussock grasslands. Flowering mostly Feb. to Apr. Map 1167

W.A.: 24.5 km SE of Mt Meharry, S. van Leeuwen 3447 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Kings Canyon, Kings Ck, A.C.Beauglehole 20309 (BRI, DNA, NSW). S.A.: Dulkaninna Station, H.Smyth 71 (AD, BR, BRI, CANB, NY, PRE). Qld: 5.5 km along Lake Numalla Rd, Currawinya N.P., P.I.Forster 20406 & M.Watson (AD, BRI, NSW). N.S.W.: Wapweelaah HS, NW of Bourke, P.T.Fogarty 793 & R.Dickmann (BRI, NSW). Vic.: Mt Buckra Scenic Reserve, A.C.Beauglehole 88070 (BRI, CANB, MEL).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. hystrichoides, D. nematostachya, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. papposa, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. Very similar to D. papposa, differing by the possession of a visible lower glume.

3. Digitaria hystrichoides Vick., Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 1: 324 (1951)

T: Gerelah, Nyngan, N.S.W., 20 Feb. 1936, J.C.Butcher s.n.; holo: NSW (photo BRI).

Illustrations: T.D.Stanley & E.M.Ross, Fl. SE Queensland, 3: 235, fig. 37H (1989); D.J.B.Wheeler, S.W.L.Jacobs & R.D.B.Whalley, Grasses of New South Wales, 4^th  ed., 217 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 15–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy (hirsute); ligule 1.2–3 mm long; blades flat, 3–18 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, hairy (densely hirsute with papillae-based hairs), smooth. Inflorescence 12–30 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 5–15, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 7–27 cm long. Central axis 3–7 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–0.8 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 20–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long silky hairs), paired, lanceolate, 3–3.5 mm long, 0.6–1 mm wide; lower glume 0.3–1.4 mm long, triangular to ovate, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.9–2.5 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 3–3.5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet or shorter than the spikelet, with prominent hair tufts on either side of midrib, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins ciliate (with stiff bristles), 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 1.7–1.9 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, smooth (minutely striate), lanceolate, acute, apiculate. Curly Umbrella Grass.

Endemic. Arid N.T., Qld and N.S.W. to coastal Qld and N.S.W. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and acacia shrublands. Flowering Nov. to June. Map 1172.

N.T.: Murray Downs Stn., P.K.Latz 6934 (BRI, NT). Qld: Mt Coolon-Suttor Development Rd, Gunn Ck, A.B.Pollock 312 & I.G.Champion (BRI, CANB); Charleville, Warrego District, S.T.Blake 11029 (BRI); near Gurulmundi, C.E.Hubbard 5099 (BRI, K). N.S.W.: 60 mls S of Wilcannia on road to Cobar, P. Martenz 67/112 (NSW).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D.papposa, D. nematostachya, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. Closely related to D. ammophila, differing by having stiff marginal bristles. Both are important forage species in drier areas. The illustration attributed to Wheeler et al (1990) in AusGrass is not this species, but D. orbata.

4. Digitaria nematostachya (Bailey) Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 487 (1950)

Panicum nematostachyum F.M.Bailey, Bot. Bull. Dept. Agric., Queensland 16: 2 (1903). T: Chudleigh Park Stn, 110 miles N of Hughenden, C.E.Hubbard 7668 & C.W.Winders, neo: CANB; isoneo: BRI, K) fide R.D.Webster, Brunonia 6: 193 (1983).

Panicum radiatum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810); P. divaricatissimum var. radiatum (R.Br.) Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1879); Digitaria tonsa Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 313 (1923). T: Port Jackson, N.S.W., R.Brown Iter Australiense 6115; holo: BM (photo BRI) n.v.; iso: BRI, E, n.v., K (photo BRI) .

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 751 (1950) as D.tonsa; T.D.Stanley & E.M.Ross, Fl. SE Queensland 3: 235, fig. 37I (1989) as D.tonsa.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 35–60 cm tall, 4–12 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 1–3.5 mm long; blades flat, (8–)60–250 cm long, 3.5–7 mm wide, hairy or glabrous (rarely), smooth or scabrous. Inflorescence 4- 16–25 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 10–20, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 10 13–30 cm long. Central axis 8–13 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 16–44 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic (to obovate), 1.7–2.5 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide; lower glume 0.25–0.7 mm long, ovate to oblong, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.5–2.4 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, lanceolate to elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.6–2.5 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing to with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret or subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.8–2.4 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, acute, mucronate.

Endemic. Tropical W.A, N.T. and Qld and subtropical Qld; NSW (one early record from Sydney). Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and tropical sub-humid grasslands. Flowering Jan. to Aug. Map 1171.

W.A.: Galvins Gorge, North Kimberley, A.A.Mitchell 4446 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Mallapunyah Stn, I.D.Cowie 1708 & B.A.Wilson (BRI, DNA, MEL); Nicholson R. area, J.R.Maconochie 2020 (BRI, CANB, DNA). Qld: Townsville,S.T.Blake 8161 (AD, BRI, CANB, K, L, MEL, MO, PERTH); Springmount Stn, J.R.Clarkson 4621 (ATH, BRI, DNA, K, NSW); 10 km E of Muswellbrook Mining Camp on road to Ridepole Waterhole, R.W.Johnson MRD316 & M.B.Thomas (BRI, CANB). N.S.W. Sydney, R.Brown Iter Australiense 6115 (BM, BRI, E, K) - type of Panicum radiatum above.

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D.papposa, D. hystrichoides, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. A completely glabrous spikelet with the upper lemma protruding past the lower lemma makes D. nematostachya a distinctive member of the Pennatae. The NSW record of this species is based on the type of Digitaria tonsa (as Panicum radiatum) from Port Jackson, and thus far no other collections from the state have been made. On this basis the collecting locality could be wrong. Webster (1983) separates D. tonsa  on the basis of the upper glume being pubescent and the lower lemma having setaceous hairs, but in the type specimen has these are glabrous and the spikelets are indistinguishable from those of D. nematostachya.

5. Digitaria benthamiana Henrard, Blumea 1: 99 (1934)

Panicum autumnale F.Muell., non Bosc. ex Spreng. (1825), Fragm. 8: 196 (1874); P. papposum var. leiostachyam Benth., as leiostachyam, Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Sweers Is., Henne s.n.; holo: W; iso: MEL. (MEL 590247) (photo BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 70 (1950).

Perennial, without rhizomes. Flowering culms caespitose, 35–90 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy; ligule 1–1.5 mm long; blades flat, 4–15 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, velverty hairy, scabrous. Inflorescence 10–22 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 14–20, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 6–17 cm long. Central axis 4–7 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 17–25 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (slightly), paired, elliptic, 1.9–2.3 mm long, 0.9–1 mm wide; lower glume 0.3–0.4 mm long, truncate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous; upper glume 1.8-2.2 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy (slightly), puberulent (shortly), acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.3 mm long, without hair tufts, 5 nerved, muticous; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 1.8–1.9 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, acuminate.

Endemic. Strange distribution of Sweers Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Qld and central Australia. Needs further investigating. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Apr. Map 1174 [Add dots for Mt Garnet and Narayen].

Qld. about 45 ml (72 km) SE of Mt Garnet, S.A.Morain 192 (BRI); Nayaren, J.Tothill N709 (BRI); N.T.: Bloodwood Bor, Goyer Ck, P.K.Latz 6898 (BRI, CANB, NSW, DNA); Umbeara Stn, P.K.Latz 6900 (AD, BRI, CANB, MEL, NSW, PERTH).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D. papposa, D. hystrichoides, D. nematostachya, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. D. benthamiana differs from D. nematostachya by being slightly hairy and the three records of this species are widespread biogeographically. Possibly only a form of D. nematostachya.

6. Digitaria basaltica B.K.Simon, Austrobaileya 9: 194 (2010)

T: Qld: Great Basalt Wall, 5 Apr 1995 R.J.Fensham 2183; holo: BRI; iso: CANB, K.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 70–90 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy; ligule 1.9–2.3 mm long; blades flat, 9–30 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, velverty hairy, scabrous. Inflorescence 15–40 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 14–17, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, 17–37 cm long. Central axis 10–14 cm long. Pedicels 1–4 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 24–36 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (discernibly), paired, lanceolate, 2.2–2.4 mm long, 0.9–1.2 mm wide; lower glume 0.8–0.9 mm long, oblong and truncate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous; upper glume 2.1-2.3 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 7 nerved, with ciliate margins and sub-margins, hairy, villous (evenly), acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.2–2.4 mm long, hairy, without hair tufts, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 1.9–2 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, acuminate, muticous.

Fig xx (W.A.Smith).

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Only record is from the Great Basalt Wall, Qld. Flowering Apr.

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D. papposa, D. hystrichoides, D. benthamiana, D. nematostchya, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. Restricted to type locality. Differs from D. benthamiana by the spikelets being discernibly hairy, the lower glumes being longer and by the lower lemma being 7-nerved, as opposed to 5-nerved in D. benthamiana.

7. Digitaria porrecta S.T. Blake, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 84: 63 (1973)

T: near Cambooya, Qld, 12 Apr.1971, S.T.Blake 23590; holo: BRI (3 sheets); iso: AD, CANB, DNA, K, L, MEL, MO, NSW, PERTH, PRE).

D. coenicola (F.Muell.) Hughes var. ramosa Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 1: 328 (1951). T: Oakwood, via Inverell, 9 Feb. 1941, N.S.W., M. Woods s.n.; holo: NSW.

Illustrations: J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Queensland 194, fig 20 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B. Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 220 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–70 cm tall, 4–7 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 2.2–3 mm long; blades flat, 6–15 cm long, 2.8–3.9 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 18–30 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–3, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, branched (mostly), 12–27 cm long. Central axis 7–17 cm long. Pedicels 1–2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 10–20 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired to in 3’s, lanceolate, 5.2–6.9 mm long, 0.9–1 mm wide; lower glume 1.1–1.6 mm long, oblong, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse; upper glume 4.6–6.5 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate to elliptic (narrow), 5 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 4.5–6.1 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space to with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing to with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 4.5–5.5 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, acute to acuminate, muticous.

Fig xx (C.Wardrop).

Endemic. Darling Downs, Qld and New England Tableland, N.S.W. Tropical and subtropical rain forests and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Jan. to July. Map 1173.

Qld: Albinia NP, near Rolleston, R.Meltzer 3116 (BRI); Wyreema, C.E.Hubbard 5881 (BRI, MEL, K); Brookvale Park, Oakey, M.E.Ballingall P51 (BRI, CANB). N.S.W.: 20km ENE of Warialda, road between Warialda & The Peak, D.Halford Q2539 (BRI, CANB, NSW); 7.4km N of Carooma, near Nardu railway siding, D.Halford Q2567 (BRI, CANB, NSW).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D. papposa, D. hystrichoides, D.benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. nematostachya, D. divaricatissima and D. coenicola. Closely related to D. coenicloa and D. divaricatissima, differing by the secondary branching of the racemes, particularly of the lower whorled racemes. The reported character of the upper glume and lower lemma having very stout nerves wider then the internerves by S.T.Blake was not observed in the type specimen.

8. Digitaria divaricatissima (R.Br.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 314 (1923)

Panicum divaricatissimum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810); Leptoloma divaricatissima (R.Br.) Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 29: 192 (1906). T: Port Jackson, R.Brown Iter Australiense 6118; holo: BM; iso: BRI, E, K (photo BRI).

Panicum divaricatissimum var. glaberrimum Benth. in part, Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Rockhampton and neighbourhood, A.Thozet s.n.; syn: MEL; isosyn: BRI; Gracemere, P.A.O'Shanesy 1441; syn: MEL: isosyn: BRI; Peak Downs, Burkitt s.n.; syn: K (photo BRI).

Panicum divaricatissimum var. normale Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Keppel Bay, Qld, R.Brown; syn: BM n.v.; Port Jackson, N.S.W., R.Brown; syn: BM, n.v.

Panicum macractinium Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878); Leptoloma macractinia (Benth.) Chase, as macratenia, Proc. Roy. Soc. Wash. 19: 192 (1906); Panicum divaricatissimum R.Br. var. macractinium (Benth.) Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 293 (1915); Digitaria macractinia (R.Br.) Hughes, as macractenia, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 314 (1923). T: Herbert's Ck, Bowman s.n.; lecto: K; isolecto: BRI, MEL, fide D.K.Hughes, loc. cit.

D. macractinia subsp. muelleriana Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 865 (1950), in key. T: not designated.

D. macractinia (Benth.) Hughes subsp. leichhardtiana Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 830 (1950). T: in railway enclosure, Blair Athol, Leichhardt District, Qld, 16 Mar. 1935, S.T.Blake 8091 p.p.; holo: L , n.v.; iso: BRI, K.

D. macractinia (Benth.) Hughes var. nudiflora Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 831 (1950). T: near Rockhampton on mid slopes of Mt Berserker, Qld, 6 Mar. 1937, S.T.Blake 12721 p.p.; holo: L, n.v.; iso: BRI, K.

D. divaricatissima (R.Br.) Hughes var. dasyantha Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 199 (1950). T: Austr: haud rara, Hugel s.n.; syn: ?W n.v.; in Australia tropica, Bauer s.n.; syn: ?W n.v.

Panicum tenuissimum var. polychaeton Domin, Bibl. Bot. 85: 296 (1915). T: Süd-Queensland: Tambourine Mountains, in den Regenwäldern, K.Domin s.n., Mar. 1910; holo: PR, n.v. .

Illustrations: J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Queensland 194, fig 13 (1983); J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 197 (1950); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 217 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5–3 mm long; blades flat, 5–22 cm long, 2.5–7 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 16–26 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 4–10, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, simple, 7–36 cm long. Central axis 2–9 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 16–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 3.8–4.5 mm long, 0.85–1.1 mm wide; lower glume 0.4–0.75 mm long, ovate or oblong, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.7–4 mm long, as long as spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved (occasionally 5), with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 3.1–4.5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.9–4.2 mm long, brown, cartilaginous to indurate, muricate, lanceolate, acute to acuminate, mucronate. Umbrella Grass.

Endemic. A widespread variable species in arid areas of Qld, N.S.W. and Vic. Dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowering mostly Nov. to Apr. Map 1169.

Qld: Leichhardt District, Bluff, C.E.Hubbard 8007 (BRI, K); between Dulacca and Palardo, S.T.Blake 1578 (BRI); Macalister, C.E.Hubbard 6451 & C.W.Winders (BRI, K). N.S.W.; 8 miles [12.9 km] NE of Dubbo, R.Coveny 2481 (BRI, MEL, NSW). Vic: Glenrowan township, N of Hume Highway, P.Foreman 254 (BRI, MEL).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D.papposa, D. hystrichoides, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. nematostachya and D. coenicola. Similar to D. coenicola in the spikelet size, differing from this species by the upper glume being 3-nerved and having a wide and glabrous first internerve space in the lower lemma.

9. Digitaria coenicola (F. Muell.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 313 (1923)

Panicum coenicolum F.Muell., Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 1: 45 (1855); Leptoloma coenicola (F.Muell.) Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 192 (1906). T: towards Morunde, and near Cudnaka, S.A., F.Mueller s.n.; holo; MEL (photo BRI); iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Panicum divaricatissimum var. glaberrimum Benth. in part, Fl. Austral. 7: 468 (1878). T: Peak Downs, Burkitt; syn: K, n.v.; isosyn: BRI; MEL.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 135 (1950); N.G.Walsh in N.G.Walsh & T.J.Entwisle (eds), Fl. Victoria 2: 607, fig. 123e (1994); J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 441, fig.371 (2006).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 20–70 cm tall, 3–7 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.8–2 mm long; blades flat, 2–15 cm long, 2–4.1 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 8–25 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 5–10, usually devoid of spikelets at base, long and rigid, simple, 5–25 cm long. Central axis 5–9 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–0.5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 8–20 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, elliptic, 3.8–5.1 mm long, 0.85–1.2 mm wide; lower glume 0.35–1.5 mm long, triangular, 0–1 nerved (lateral nerves occasionally poorly developed), membranous, smooth (minutely rough), glabrous, acute to cleft or rounded; upper glume 3–5 mm long (correlated with spikelet length), as long as spikelet, triangular to lanceolate, 5–7 nerved (occasionally 3 with poorly developed lateral nerves), with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute to rounded. Lower floret; lemma 3–5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 3–5 mm long, brown, cartilaginous to indurate, muricate, lanceolate (approaching elliptic), acute, apiculate. Finger Panic Grass.

Endemic. A widespread variable species in arid areas of all mainland States, although hardly reoresented in W.A. Semi-arid shrub woodlands, acacia shrublands, arid tussock grasslands, and arid hummock grasslands. Flowering mostly Feb. to May. Map 1168.

W.A.: Corymbia Camp, Carnegie Stn, D.J.Edinger, B. & B.Backhouse & G. Marsh DJE 3150 (PERTH). N.T.: Narwietooma, J.R.Maconochie 24 (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, MO, NSW). S.A.: 65 km W of Marree, F.J.Badman 2159  (AD, BRI). Qld: on Chesterton Stn., S.T.Blake 11128 (AD, BRI). N.S.W.: between Lachlan and Murray Rivers, Nov. 1892, G.Drysdale s.n. (BRI, NSW). Vic.: Springhurst area, J.Strudwick 839  (BRI, MEL).

A member of section Pennatae, together with D. ammophila, D.papposa, D. hystrichoides, D. benthamiana, D. basaltica, D. porrecta, D. divaricatissima and D. nematostachya. Similar to D. divaricatissima in the spikelet size, differing from this species by the upper glume being 5–7-nerved and having a equal internerve spacing in the lower lemma and a first internerve space that is hairy.

10. Digitaria hubbardii Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 334 (1950)

T: N.S.W., J.N.Whittet 2; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI, NSW.

D. neurachnoides Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 1: 327 (1951). T: Gilruth Plains, Cunnamulla, N.S.W., R.Roe R139; holo: NSW, n.v.; iso: CANB, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 334 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Queensland 194, fig 15 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 218 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 20–60 cm tall, 3–10 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.65–1.5 mm long; blades flat, 1.8–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, hairy (puberulent), scabrous. Inflorescence 4.5–10 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 3–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2.5–8 cm long. Central axis 2–3.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–0.8 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 10–25 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired or in 3's, lanceolate, 2.6–3.4 mm long, 0.7–1 mm wide; lower glume 0.25–0.5 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 2.2–2.8 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 2.6–3.4 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, with prominent hair tufts on either side of midrib, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.1 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, smooth, lanceolate, apically rounded to acute, apiculate. Tufted Umbrella Grass.

Fig xx (C.Wardrop).

Endemic. Subtropical inland Qld to southern central N.S.W. Semi-arid shrub woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, arid hummock grasslands, and tropical sub-humid grasslands. Flowering mostly Feb. to Apr. Map 1139.

Qld: Noondoo near Dirranbandi, S.T.Blake 10531 (BRI); near Shamrock Wells, S.L.Everist 1527 (BRI); Gilruth Plains Stn, P.Martinensz 3973 (BRI, CANB). N.S.W.: 15 miles [24.2 km] W of Pilliga on Walgett Rd, Apr 1963 J.Vickery s.n. (NSW66031) (AD, BRI, NSW); between Lightning Ridge & Angledoo, Apr 1967 J.Vickery s.n. (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata although placed in a monotypic section Transversales by Henrard. The two prominent hair tufts on either side of midrib of the lower lemma distinguishes D. hubbardii from other species with hairy spikelets.

11. Digitaria gibbosa (R. Br.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 160 (1812)

Panicum gibbosum R.Br., Prodr. 193 (1810); Syntherisma gibbosa (R.Br.) Chase, Contr. U.S. Natl Herb. 24: 171 (1925). T: Keppel Bay, R.Brown Iter Australiense 6124; holo: BM (photo BRI); iso: K (photo BRI).

Digitaria orthostachya Stapf & Jesson, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1915: 93 (1915); Panicum orthostachyum (Stapf & Jesson) Ewart & O.B.Davies, Fl. N. Territory 38 (1917). T: Bachelor Farm near Darwin, N.T., Jan. 1914, C.E.F.Allen 29; syn: K (photo BRI); isosyn: MEL (photo BRI), NSW; near Darwin, N.T., Mar. 1914, C.E.F.Allen 143; syn: K (photo BRI); isosyn: MEL, NSW.

Panicum parviflorum R.Br. var. pilosum Benth. as pilosa, Fl. Austral. 7: 471 (1878). T: Moreton Bay, Qld, Bailey 47 holo: MEL.

Panicum gibbosum f. subglabrum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 299 (1915). T: not cited.

Panicum gibbosum f. hispidum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 299 (1915). T: not cited.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 290 (1950); D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass. Grasses of Australia. CD-Rom Version 1.0. ( 2002).

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose, 25–40 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous (short seteceous hairs); ligule 0.3–1 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–15 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 1.5–18 cm long, consisting of a single raceme. Racemes 1, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 0.2–1 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 2–25 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long hairs exceeding spikelet), usually in 3's but occasionally paired, elliptic, 1.5–2.8 mm long, 0.6–1.2 mm wide; upper glume 1.2–2.2 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, linear to triangular, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.6–3 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space or with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 5–7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.7–2.5 mm long, brown, cartilaginous to indurate, uniformly striate, lanceolate, keeled, acute to acuminate, mucronate.

Fig xx (Mali Moir).

Endemic. Tropical Australia. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and coastal grasslands. Flowering spradically Jan. to Sep. Map 1137.

W.A.: 6 miles [9.7 km] SW of Denham River Stn., M.Lazarides 5045 (BRI, CANB). N.T.: 12km SSE of Adelaide River township, I.D.Cowie 4648 (BRI, CANB, DNA, MEL, PERTH); near Elizabeth Bay, East Arnhem Land, I.Cowie 6504 (BRI, CANB, DNA, MEL, NSW). Qld: Almaden-Chillagoe Rd, 16 km from Almaden, B.K.Simon 3555 & J.R.Clarkson (BRI, CANB, K, L, MEL, MBA, MO, NSW); Castle Hill, Townsville, A.R.Bean 4094 (BRI, CANB).

A member of section Monodactylae, together with D. leucostachya, D. oraria and D. sharpeana, although formerly in a monotypic section Gibbosae Henr. A spicate inflorescence, relatively long setaceous hairs overtopping the spikelet, a keeled upper lemma, and a hair-fringed ligule makes D. gibbosa a distinctive, easily recognizable Australian endemic. It differs from D. leucostachya by the annual habit and by having a single raceme.

12. Digitaria brownii (Roemer & Schultes) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 313 (1923) as Brownei

Panicum villosum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810), nom. illeg. non Lam. (1791); Panicum brownii Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 462 (1817); Trichachne brownii (Roem. & Schult.) Henrard as Brownei, Meded. Rijks-Herb. 61: 10 (1930). T: Keppel Bay, Qld, R.Brown Iter Australiense 6119, labelled "30 Panicum sericeum [struck thro'] villosum γ, East Coast, Keppel Bay ; lecto BM (photo BRI), fide S.T.Blake, Proc. Roy. Soc. Qld. 81: 10 (1969).

Panicum leucophaeum var. monostachyum Benth. as leucophoeum, Fl. Austral. 7: 472 (1878); D. brownii var. monostachya (Benth.) Hughes as Brownei, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 313 (1923). T: Goyinga Mtns, Victorian Expedition; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI, MEL.

Panicum laniflorum Nees, London J. Bot. 2: 410 (1843). T: interior, Mitchell 68; syn: n.v.

Panicum glareae F.Muell., Linnaea 25: 445 (1853). T: near Crystal Brook, F. Muell s.n. (MEL), n.v.

[Panicum leucophaeum Benth. as leucophoeum, non H.B.Kunth (1816), Fl. Austral. 7: 472 (1878).].

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 98 (1950); N.G.Walsh in N.G.Walsh & T.J.Entwisle g (eds), Fl. Victoria 2: 607, fig. 123c-d (1994); J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 439, fig.369 (2006).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 5–15 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous (papillose-based setaceous hairs occasionally present); ligule 0.7–2.7 mm long; blades flat, 3–12 cm long, 0.5–7 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 4–15 cm long, digitate or subdigitate or on a distinct central axis. Racemes 1–7, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2–10 cm long. Central axis 2–4 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–1 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 16–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long hairs exceeding spikelet), paired, lanceolate, 2.6–3.4 mm long, 0.7–1 mm wide; lower glume 0.4–2 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous (rarely hairy), acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 2.2–3.5 mm long, as long as spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous or setose or velutinous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.6–3.4 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet (only slightly), without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 5 nerved (occasionally 7); palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.2–3.1 mm long, brown, cartilaginous to indurate, irregularly striate to muricate, elliptic, acute, apiculate. Cotton Panic Grass, Weeping Panic Grass.

Endemic. A variable species with wide distribution in all mainland States. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, temperate wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, arid and semi-arid low woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, arid tussock grasslands, arid hummock grasslands, and temperate sub-humid grasslands. Flowering sporadically throughout the year. Map 1136.

W.A.: 8 km from Edmund Stn, on road to Ullawarra Stn, B.K.Simon 3756 & J.K.Stretch (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Elkedra Stn, Davenport Ra, P.K.Latz 6989 (BRI, CANB, DNA, K, NSW). S.A.: Myrtle Springs Gorge, T.R.N.Lothian 3324 (AD, BRI). Qld: 31 miles [49.9 km] SSE of Mt. Isa, M.Lazarides 4385 (AD, BRI). N.S.W.: 13.5 km ESE of Lake Cagellico Railway Stn, R.Coveny 12055 & P.Hind (BRI, NSW); Vic.: Wimmera, summit of Mt. Wycheproof, G.W.Carr 7810 (BRI, CANB, MEL).

A member of section Trichachne, consisting of mainly New World species, although formerly placed by Henrard in section Laniflorae together with D. montana from New Caledonia. Differs from D. leucostachya by a longer lower glume and by the spikelet hairs only slightly overtopping the spikelet.  In a discussion on the typification of this species by S.T. Blake in Proc. Roy. Soc. Qld. 81: 8–10 (1969), it is stated there has been been a problem as to the correct application of Brown's name Panicum villosum and the selection of a type, due to the assigning of a single number (6119) to a mixed collection of two species of Brown's collection by J.J.Bennett. Further probems are raised in that the material assigned the number 6119 were collected from Port Jackson, Shoalwater Bay and Keppel Bay.

13. Digitaria leucostachya (Domin) Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 399 (1950)

D. leucostachya (Domin) Vickery, Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 1: 324 (1951), nom. superfl.; Panicum leucostachyum Domin, Bibliot. Bot. 85: 299 (1915). T: Stradbroke Is. in der Moreton Bay, Qld, Apr. 1910, K.Domin [1068]; syn: PR (photo BRI); die Sandhugel der Dividing Ra., ostlich von Pentland, Feb. 1910, K.Domin [1069]; syn: PR (photo BRI); bei der Mundung des Russell R., Jan. 1910, K.Domin [1070, 1071]; syn: PR (photos BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 400 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Queensland 194, fig 16 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs , R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 218 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–100 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.4–0.9 mm long; blades flat, 5–23 cm long, 2.5–8 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 8–27 cm long, digitate or subdigitate or consisting of a single raceme. Racemes 1–2, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 11–21 cm long. Central axis 0.5–4 cm long. Pedicels 2–4 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 80–150 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy (with long hairs exceeding spikelet), in 3's, elliptic, 2–2.9 mm long, 0.75–0.9 mm wide; lower glume 0–0.3 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved (occasionally faintly nerved), hyaline, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.8–2.4 mm long, as long as spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.4–2.9 mm long, hairy, with indumentum overtopping the spikelet (by some distance), without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 5–7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.3 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, uniformly striate, lanceolate to elliptic, acute, apiculate.

Native. From Melville Is, N.T. to the NSW-Qld border; one record from southern PNG near the border of Papua. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Nov. to May. Map 1138.

N.T. N of Garden Pt, Melville Island I.D.Cowie 5463 (CANB, DNA). Qld: 1.9 km NW of beach on track from Starke Stn to McIvor R. mouth, J.R.Clarkson 5188A (BRI, CANB, K, NSW, MEL, NSW); Sandy Cape, Fraser Is., S.T.Blake 22707 (BRI, CANB, K, NSW, PERTH, US); Coolum, S.T.Blake 19248 (AD, BRI, CANB, NSW, PERTH). N.S.W.: Fingal, S.T.Blake 18485 (BRI, CANB, NSW).

A member of section Monodactylae, together with D. gibbosae, D. oraria and D. sharpeana, although formerly placed in a monotypic section Leucostachyae by Henrard. A distinctive species with setaceous hairs overtopping the spikelet and verrucose hairs on the upper glume and lower lemma.  Differs from D. brownii by the lower glume being absent or minute and by the spikelet hairs overtopping the spikelet apex for some distance. Differs from D. leucostachya by the perennial habit and by having more than one raceme. The illustration attributed to Wheeler et al (1990) in AusGrass is not this species, but D. hystrichoides. .

14. Digitaria oraria R.D. Webster, Brunonia 6: 195 (1984)

T: Little Lagoon, Groote Eylandt, Gulf of Carpentaria, N.T., Apr. 8 1948, R.L.Specht 201; holo: CANB; iso: BRI, MEL, NSW, PERTH.

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–70 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.3–0.8 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–8 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 10–18 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 8.5–14 cm long. Central axis 1.5–2 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 60–120 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, in 3's (sometimes 4's), elliptic, 2.2–2.4 mm long, 0.7–0.9 mm wide; lower glume 0–0.2 mm long, oblong, 0 nerved, hyaline, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse; upper glume 2.2–2.4 mm long, as long as spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved (extreme lateral nerves occasionally partially developed), with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.2–2.4 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.1–2.4 mm long, brown, chartaceous to cartilaginous, uniformly striate, elliptic, acute, mucronate.

Fig. xx  (W.A.Smith)

Endemic. From tropical N.T. and central coastal Qld. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and coastal grasslands. Flowering Apr. to June. Map 1151.

N.T.:, SE corner of Nitmiluk NP , C.R.Michell 3813 (DNA, photo BRI); 13 miles [20.9 km] W of Borroloola, P.K.Latz 1728 (BRI, NT). Qld: near Bundaberg, Elliott Rly Bridge, D.A.Goy & L.S.Smith 571 and 595 (both BRI).

A member of section Monodactylae, together with D. gibbosae, D. leucostachya and D. sharpeana, differing from the first two species by the spikelet hairs not exceeding the spikelet and from D. sharpeana by the spikelets being arranged in threes. A poorly collected species. The present distribution makes little sense, with some in the Top End of the NT and two others from near Bundaberg in Qld. The spikelets from the two areas are uniformly similar.

15. *Digitaria ternata (A. Rich.) Stapf, Fl. Cap. 7: 376 (1898)

Cynodon ternatus A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 405 (1851). T: Ethiopia, Adua [Adoua], syn: Schimper 76 syn: P, n.v.; isosyn: B, n.v., L, n.v., K (photo BRI), US, n.v. WAG, n.v.  & Ethiopia, Quartin Dillon ; syn: P, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 737 (1950); W.D.Clayton & S.A.Renvoize, Gramineae (Part 3), in R.M.Polhill, Flora of Tropical East Africa 632, Fig. 146 (1982); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 221 (2008).

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 30–60 cm tall, 2–4 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1–1.7 mm long; blades flat, 5–12 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 7–21 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 5–11 cm long. Central axis 0.5–1 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–0.7 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 45–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, in 3's, elliptic, 2–2.6 mm long, 0.8–1 mm wide; upper glume 1.6–1.8 mm long, noticably shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2–2.6 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space (occasionally glabrous), with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2–2.5 mm long, brown to black, cartilaginous, uniformly striate, elliptic, apically rounded to acute, muticous.

Introduced (from Africa). Eastern N.S.W and SW Tas. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowering Jan. to Apr. Map 1160.

N.S.W.: Oxley Hwy, 4 km W of Wauchope, Feb 2005 van Klapkhe s.n. (BRI); Glen Innes, C.E.Hubbard 8238 (BRI, K, NSW); Horsely Park, May 1995 T.McDonald s.n. (NSW); Fitzroy Falls, Robertson, Apr 2005 van Klapkhe s.n. (BRI). Tas: near Nubeena, May 1982 W.R.Watson s.n. (HO).

A member of section Ischaemum together with D. ischaemum, D. longiflora and D. violascens; placed by Henrard in sect. Clavipilae. It differs from D. ischaemum by the pedicels having a ring of rigid apical hairs and from D. longiflora and D. violascens  by having larger spikelets. A naturalised species found on disturbed habitats.

16. *Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. ex Schweigg.) Schreb. ex Muhl., Descr. Gramin. 131 (1817)

Panicum ischaemum Schreb. ex Schweigg., Spec. Fl. Erlang. 16 (1805). T: Europe, fide Tropicos, n.v.

Syntherisma glabra Schrad., Fl. Germ. 1: 163, t. 3, f. 6 (1806); Panicum glabrum (Schrad.) Gaudin, Agrost. Helv. 1: 22 (1811); D. glabra (Schrad.) P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51 (1812). T: not designated, n.v.

Illustrations: S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 218 (2008); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 373 (2003); J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 443, fig.374 (2006).

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 15–40 cm tall, 3–4 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.9–2.2 mm long; blades flat, 1.5–9 cm long, 2.5–5 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 3–7 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 1.5–6 cm long. Central axis 0.5–1.5 cm long. Pedicels 2–3.1 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 30–60 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, in 3's, elliptic, 1.75- 2–2.3 mm long, 0.75–1 mm wide; lower glume 0–0.2 mm long, ovate to oblong, 0 nerved, hyaline, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.7–2 mm long, as long as spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.5–3 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret to subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.7–2.3 mm long, brown, chartaceous to cartilaginous, uniformly striate, elliptic, acute, muticous. Smooth Summer Grass.

Introduced (from Eurasia). Wetter regions of N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic and S.A. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, temperate wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, acacia shrublands, and temperate sub-humid grasslands. Flowering Feb. to Apr. Map 1159.

W.A.: Lesmurdie, A.A.Mitchell 4292 (BRI, PERTH). S.A.: Hawthornedere (near Bellair), East Tce, Mar. 1978, M.V.Carter s.n. (AD, NSW, K) N.S.W.: Dorrigo, Mar 1980, N.Lloyd s.n. (BRI, NSW); A.C.T. Garden at 76 Captain Cook Cres., N.T.Burbidge 7735 (CANB). Vic.: Mt. Baldhead, Bruthen Rd., A.C.Beauglehole 37409 (MEL).

A member of section Ischaemum, together with D. ternata, D. longiflora and D. violascens; placed by Henrard in sect. Clavipilae. It differs from D. ternata by the pedicels having no a ring of rigid apical hairs and from D. longiflora and D. violascens  by having larger spikelets. It commonly occurs in disturbed open habitats, and woodland margins, often invading yards and gardens. The illustration attributed to Wheeler et al (1990) in AusGrass is not this species, but D. leucostachya. .

17. Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 85 (1805)

Paspalum longiflorum Retz., Observ. Bot. 4: 15 (1786); Paspalum brevifolium Flüggé, as Paspalus brevifolius, Gram. Monogr., Paspalum 150 (1810), nom. superfl. T: [India], E Malabria, J.König s.n.; holo: LD, n.v.; iso: BM, K (photo BRI).

Panicum propinquum R.Br., Prodr. 193 (1810); D. propinqua P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 160, 170 (1812); Paspalum brevifolium Flüggé var. propinquum Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 461 (1878). T: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, [N.T.], R.Brown Iter Australiense 6122; holo: BM (photo BRI); iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Panicum tenuiflorum R.Br., Prodr. 193 (1810); D. tenuiflora P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 160, 171 (1812). T: Keppel Bay, [Qld], R.Brown Iter Australiense 6121; holo: BM (photo BRI); iso: BRI.

D. curvipes Mez., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 56: 8 (1921). T: Rockingham Bay, Australia, Dallachy s.n.; holo: B; iso: BRI, K (photo BRI), L, MEL, NSW.

D. speciosa Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 837 (1950). T: Pentland, North Kennedy District, Qld, S.T.Blake 8383; holo: L; iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

D. eriolepis Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 819 (1950). T: Etheridge R., Qld, Gulliver s.n.; holo: W; iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 410 (1950); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 219 (2008); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 371 (2003).

Usually perennial, without rhizomes, stoloniferous (stolons long and branching). Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 10–55 cm tall, 4–20 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.5–2.1 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–13 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 4–9 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3.5–10 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicels 0.3–1.5 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 45–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, in 3's, elliptic, 1.2–1.5 mm long, 0.5–0.75 mm wide; lower glume hyaline, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse; upper glume 1.2–2.3 mm long, as long as spikelet, ovate, 5–7 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.2–2.3 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.2–2.1 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, uniformly striate, elliptic, acute, muticous or apiculate.

Endemic. A variable widespread species in tropical and subtropical Australia. Native also to Africa and Asia and introduced to the New World. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, temperate wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, arid and semi-arid low woodlands, eucalypt shrublands, arid tussock grasslands, and tropical sub-humid grasslands. Flowering probably throughout the year. Map 1157.

W.A.:54 km E from Newman on Jimblebar Rd, A.A.Mitchell PRP1165 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Coonawarra Naval Barracks, Darwin, A.A.Mitchell 4885 (BRI, DNA, PERTH). Qld: Bowen, S.T.Blake 18546 (BRI, CANB, K, L); Farmers Pt, Facing Island, S.T.Blake 22537 (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, K, NSW, PERTH). N.S.W.: Como, Georges R, Mar 1898, J.H.Camfield NSW02469 (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Ischaemum, together with D. ternata, D. ischaemum and D. violascens; placed by Henrard in sect. Verrucipilae. It differs from D. violascens by its stoloniferous perennial habit and from D. ischaemum and D. ternata  by having smaller spikelets.

18. *Digitaria violascens Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 229 (1827)

T: cultivated in Berlin, seed from Brazil, Hb. Link 93; holo: B (www – BGBM), n.v.

Paspalum minutiflorum Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 17 (1853). T: China, Fortune 128; holo: P, n.v.; iso: K, L, W. all n.v..

Paspalum minutiflorum Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 461 (1878), nom. illeg. non Steud. (1853); D. recta Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 311 (1923). T: Port Curtis, Qld, McGillivray s.n.; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI.

Panicum steudelianum Domin, nom. illeg., Biblioth. Bot. 85: 296 (1915).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 791 (1950); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 373 (2003); J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 443, fig. 375 (2006).

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.5–1.6 mm long; blades flat, 4–22 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 5–11 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–5, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3–14 cm long. Central axis 0–0.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets 50–100 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, in 3's, elliptic, 1.3–1.7 mm long, 0.55–0.8 mm wide; lower glume 0–0.2 mm long (mostly absent), ovate to oblong, hyaline, smooth, glabrous; upper glume 1.2–1.7 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate to elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.35–1.75 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with the first internerve space narrower than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.3–1.7 mm long, brown to black, chartaceous to cartilaginous, uniformly striate, elliptic, acute, muticous.

Introduced (although area of origin unknown) and possibly native, in that D. recta appears to be native in Qld. Scattered around coastal regions, excluding Vic. Tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, and temperate sub-humid woodlands. Flowering mostly Jan. to May. Map 1158.

W.A.: Applecross, Mar 1978, A.J.Clark s.n. (PERTH). N.T.: Kapalga, R.Collins BC196 (BRI, CANB, DNA). S.A.: Adelaide lawn sample, D.E.Symon 11002 (AD). Qld: 1 km N of Barron R. crossing on Kennedy Hwy S of Atherton, J.R.Clarkson & B.K.Simon 7246 (BRI, K, L, NSW, PERTH). N.S.W.: Sydney, Cheltenham, J.Vickery s.n., Apr.1968, (BRI, MEL, NSW).

A member of section Ischaemum, together with D. ternata, D. longiflora and D. ischaemum; placed by Henrard in sect. Verrucipilae. It differs from D. longiflora by its annual habit and from D. ischaemum and D. ternata  by having smaller spikelets. It prefers coarse-textured soils in disturbed habitats and woodland margins.

19. Digitaria ctenantha (F. Muell.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 310 (1923)

Panicum ctenanthum F.Muell., Fragm. 8: 153 (1874). T: Sturt's et Hooker's Ck [N.T.], F.Mueller s.n.; holo: MEL (photo BRI); iso: BRI.

D. robusta Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 310 (1923). T: Melville Is, N.T., Hill 189; holo: K; iso: BRI.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 158 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194 (1983); J.P.Jessop & H.R.Toelken (eds), Fl. S. Australia 4: 1963, fig. 896G (1986).

Annual. Flowering culms decumbent, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.6–2 mm long; blades flat, 3–11 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 4–9 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2.5–8.5 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets with rigid bristles. Pedicels 0.4–0.6 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 18–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 3.6–5.5 mm long, 0.9–1.3 mm wide; lower glume 0–0.8 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth to rough, glabrous, acute to cleft; upper glume 2.7–3.8 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 3.3–5.5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 3.3–5.4 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous to indurate, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous.

Endemic. Tropical and arid regions of northern Australia, extending into S.A. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, arid and semi-arid low woodlands, acacia shrublands, arid tussock grasslands, coastal grasslands, and tropical sub-humid grasslands. Flowering mostly Feb. to May. Map 1156.

W.A.: Inglis Gap, Gibb River Rd, B.K.Simon 3838 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Mud Cod Bay, Groote Eylant, D.Levitt 413 (BRI, DNA); 12 miles [19.3 km] E of Palm Valley, P.K.Latz 1901 (AD, BRI, DNA). S.A.: Abminga Ck, Lake Eyre, R.J.Bates 58588 (AD, BRI). Qld: Malbon, S.T.Blake 10140 (BRI, CANB, NSW).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. stenostachya, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera and D. sanguinalis. It differs from all other species of the section by the pedicelled spikelets always having rigid bristles. Spikelet pubescence and nervation of the lower lemma is highly variable.

20. Digitaria sharpeana B.K.Simon, Austrobaileya 9: 196 (2010)

T: Sunnybank, Brisbane, 24 Mar 1934, S.T.Blake 5300; holo: BRI; iso: NSW, CANB.

Perennial, rhizomatous (very shortly). Flowering culms caespitose, 40–90 cm tall, 4–6 noded. Leaf sheaths hairy (on margins towards the apex). Ligule 0.1–0.15 mm long. Leaf blades flat, 5–30 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 9–20 cm long, consisting of a single raceme or digitate or subdigitate (rarely). Racemes 1 or 2 (rarely), 9–20 cm long. Pedicels 1–4 mm long, apices discoid. Spikelets homomorphous, 50–120 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, in 3's, elliptic, 2–2.5 mm long, 0.75–1 mm wide. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Lower glume 0 mm long. Upper glume 1.7–2 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, acute. Lemma 2.5–3 mm long, glabrous, with indumentum equalling the spikelet length, 7 nerved. Palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret. Lemma 2.5–3 mm long, brown to black, chartaceous, uniformly striate, elliptic, acute, muticous. Caryopsis 2.5.

Fig xx (W.A.Smith).

Endemic.

Qld: 21.5 km SE of Miriam Vale, E.J.Thompson MIR345 & R.J.Price (BRI); 17 km N of Miriam Vale, E.J.Thompson MIR344 & G.P.Turpin (BRI); just below summit of Mt. Benarigo, SF 57 Parish St Mary, P.Grimshaw PG2332 & G.P.Turpin (BRI, CANB, K, NSW).

A member of section Monodactylae, together with D. leucostachya, D. gibbosa and D. oraria. It differs from the first two by the spikeles not being obviously hairy and from D. oraria by the spikelets being arranged in pairs.  It differs from D. stenostachya and D. veldkampiana by the racemes usuually being single (rarely paired). The specimens of D. sharpeana were formerly included with D. ramosa, but they are not at all similar to this species.

21. Digitaria stenostachya (Benth.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 311 (1923)

Panicum stenostachyum Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 470 (1878). T: Upper Victoria R., N.T., F.Mueller s.n.; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI, W, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 707 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194 (1983).

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose to decumbent, 30–50 cm tall, 3–10 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.6–1 mm long; blades flat to conduplicate, 5–12 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 5–9 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3–9 cm long. Central axis 0.3–1 cm long. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.3–0.5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 20–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.5–2.75 mm long, 0.65–0.9 mm wide; lower glume to 0.2 mm long, truncate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous; upper glume 1.7–1.9 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate l or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.5–2.75 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 2.5–2.75 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, lanceolate to elliptic, rounded on the back (slightly gibbose at base), acute, muticous.

Endemic. Known from the Kimberley region of W.A. and the 'top end' of the N.T.  Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Feb. to Mar. Map 1156.

W.A.: Berkeley R. mouth, NE Kimberley, A.A.Mitchell 7750 (BRI, DNA). N.T.: Deaf Adder Gorge, C.R.Dunlop 4448 (BRI, DNA); Litchfield NP, near Florence Falls Rd, I.D.Cowie 5305 & S.Taylor (BRI, DNA). Mt. Boulder, C.R.Dunlop 7997 & G.T.Leach (BRI, DNA); Katherine Gorge, I.B.Wilson 194 (BRI, NT, CANB).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. It differs from D. ctenantha by the pedicelled spikelet not being bristled, from  D. didactyla, D. radicosa and  D. ciliaris by its erect habit, from D. bicornis, D. setigera and D. sanguinalis by having less than 3 racemes and from D. veldkampiana by its perennial habit. On sandstone ridges and moist sandy areas in sub-humid woodlands.

22. Digitaria veldkampiana B.K.Simon, Austrobaileya 9: 198 (2010)

T: Qld: SE of Surat, Thornby Ra, 21 May 1960, S.T.Blake 21286; holo: BRI; iso: L, MEL.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms decumbent, 30–50 cm tall, 4–8 noded. Leaf sheaths hairy (at the base). Ligule 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf blades flat, 2–6 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 6–10 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 6–10 cm long. Pedicels 0.7–3 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets heteromorphous, 26–32 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 3.5–4 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide. Lower glume 0.2 mm long, truncate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, truncate. Upper glume 2.5 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 5 nerved, glabrous to hairy (much hairier in some pedicelled spikelets), villous, acute. Lower floret ; lemma 3.5–4 mm long, glabrous to hairy (much hairier in some pedicelled spikelets), with indumentum equalling the spikelet length, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, 7 nerved. Palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret. Lemma 3.5–4 mm long, brown, chartaceous, finely muricate, lanceolate, acute, muticous.

Fig xx (W.A.Smith).

Endemic. Known from one locality in S Qld.

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis, and D. stenostachya. The only specimen of this species was formerly placed by Webster in D. heterantha but an examination of a drawing of the type of this species in Veldkamp (1973) indicates that the pedicelled spikelet usually has bristles, whereas the pedicelled spikelet of D. veldkampiana never has bristles. It has subsequently been identified as D. stenostachya but this species is an annual and geographically restricted to the "top end" of Australia and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

23. *Digitaria didactyla Willd., Enum. Pl. 91 (1809)

Panicum didactylum (Willd.) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 33 (1829). T: Habitat in Insula Borboniae, Bory de St. Vincent s.n.; holo: B (Hb. Willd. 1646 – www.BGBM); iso: BM (photo BRI).

Panicum sanguinale var. brevispicatum Maiden, Ag. Gaz. New South Wales 21: 789 (1910). T: Botanic Gardens, E.Cheel s.n.; holo: NSW, n.v.; iso: K, n.v.

D. didactyla var. decalvata Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 182 (1950). T: Umbogintwini Experiment Stn, Natal, South Africa, Moses 5440; holo: L (photo BRI); iso: SRGH, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 180 (1950); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 216 (2008); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 377 (2003).

Perennial (with cataphylls), stoloniferous. Flowering culms decumbent, 10–60 cm tall, 1–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.8–2.2 mm long; blades flat to conduplicate, 1.9–8 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, glabrous (rarely puberulent), smooth. Inflorescence 1–6 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 1.9–7 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.15–0.6 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 26–32 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.3–2.7 mm long, 0.5–0.9 mm wide; lower glume 0.2–0.4 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous to chartaceous, smooth to rough or scabrous, glabrous, acute to cleft or rounded; upper glume 1.3–1.6 mm long, up to half as long as spikelet to less than half the length of spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.3–2.7 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.2–2.6 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acute, muticous. Queensland Blue Couch.

Introduced (from the Mascarene Islands). Mostly in eastern Qld and N.S.W.; also in north and SW W.A. and the N.T. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering mostly Jan. to May. Map 1152.

W.A.: Lambs Vacation Village, Broome, A.A.Mitchell 7404 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Casuarina Senior College Oval, Moil, Darwin, A.A.Mitchell 8054 (BRI, CANB, DNA). S.A.: cultivated at Adelaide Botanical Gardens, D.E.Symon 22312 (AD). Qld: Amity Point, Stradbroke Is., C.E.Hubbard 2182 (BRI, CANB). N.S.W.: Taronga Park, Sydney, J.Vickery 77 (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. stenostachya, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. Differs from D. stenostachya and D. veldkampiana by its non-erect habit, from D. radicosa and D. ciliaris by its tightly mat-forming habit, and from D. bicornis, D. setigera and D. sanguinalis by having less than 3 racemes.  Introduced in the early 1900's as a lawn grass, now occurs sporadically in disturbed sites and is most competitive in moist sandy soils.

24. *Digitaria aequiglumis (Hack. et Arechav.) L. Parodi, Revista Fac. Agron. Veterin. 4: 47 (1922)

Panicum aequiglume Hack. & Arechav., Anales Mus. Nac. Montevideo 1: 113 (1894). T: Hb. Hackel no. 22880; holo: W (photo BRI), n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 28 (1950); E.G.Nicora & Z.E.R. de Agrasar, Gen. Gramin. Amer. Austral 458, fig. 162 (1987); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4^th ed., 213 (2008).

Perennial (weak, with cataphylls), stoloniferous. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 20–50 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.3–2.7 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–11.5 cm long, 2.5–5 mm wide, glabrous (rarely with scattered villous hairs), smooth. Inflorescence 5–7 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 5–8 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.3–0.5 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 30–50 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 3–3.7 mm long, 0.65–0.8 mm wide; upper glume 3–3.7 mm long (slightly longer than lower lemma), as long as spikelet, lanceolate, 5 nerved or 7 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, puberulent to villous, long acuminate or acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 3–3.7 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.8–3.5 mm long, yellow, chartaceous to cartilaginous, uniformly striate (obscure), lanceolate, acuminate.

Introduced (from South America). Isolated coastal areas of N.S.W, S.A. and SW W.A. Flowering Jan. to Apr. Map 1153.

W.A.: 7.5 km S of Bullsbrook, B.J.Lepschi & T.R.Lally 2486 (BRI, CANB, PERTH). S.A.: cult. at Royal Adelaide Golf Club, D.E.Symon 23391 (AD). N.S.W.: Watsons Bay, Jun.1912, W.F.Blakely s.n. (BRI, NSW); Raymond Terrace, Grahamstown Reservoir, N.Lloyd s.n. (NSW 462262) (BRI, NSW); Liverpool-Casula along railroad line, E.McBarron 14075 (BRI, NSW); Sydney, Centennial Park, J.Vickery s.n. (NSW 25921) (BRI, NSW); A.C.T.: O'Connor, H.S.McKee 11424 (NSW).

The only Australian member of section Aequiglume, native to the New World tropics and an infrequent weed in a few temperate localities.  A mat-forming perennial like D. didactyla, differing by having spikelets more than 2.9 mm long.

25. Digitaria radicosa (C.Presl) Miq, Fl. Ind. Bat. 3: 437 (1857)

Panicum radicosum K.Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 297 (1830). T: Philippines, Luzon, T.P.X.Haenke s.n.; holo: PR (photo BRI).

Digitaria propinqua Gaudich, in Freyc. , Voy. Uranie 1: 410 (1829), non P.Beauv. (1812). Panicum timorense Kunth, Eum. Pl. 1: 83 (1833); Digitaria timorensis (Kunth) Balansa in Morot, J. Bot. 4: 138 (1890). T: Gaudichaud s.n. holo: P n.v.; iso: L, US both n.v.).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 746 (1950) as D. timorensis; fig. 759, Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven (eds), Flora of China Illustrations 759, fig 759 (2007).

Annual (without cataphylls). Flowering culms decumbent, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.8–1.8 mm long; blades flat, 3–10 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 3–9 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–3, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3.5–6 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.2–0.7 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 20–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch (mostly 30 - 40), hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.5–3.3 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm wide; lower glume 0.1–0.25 mm long, triangular to ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to cleft; upper glume 1.1–1.6 mm long, up to half as long as spikelet to less than half the length of spikelet, lanceolate, 1–3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.5–3.3 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.6–3.2 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acute to acuminate, muticous.

Native. Common throughout Malesia but is known only from a few collections in Australia, W.A , N.T. and Qld. Tropical and subtropical rain forests and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering July. Map 1154.

W.A.: Hunter St nursery, Broome, weed in nursery, A.A. Mitchell 4312 (BRI, PERTH); 20km SSE of Carson River Homestead on W bank of the Drysdale River, A.A. Mitchell 4387 (BRI, PERTH); 60 km SE of Kunanurra at base of L. Argyle Dam wall, A.A.Mitchell 4505 (BRI, PERTH). N.T.: Stuart Park Nursery, Darwin, A.A.Mitchell 4832 (BRI, DNA, PERTH). Qld: Babinda, S.T.Blake 15020  (BRI).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. stenostachya, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. Intermediate between D. ciliaris and D. setigera, characterised by the absence of pronounced spicules on the margins of primary branches and a spikelet narrower than D. ciliaris.

26. *Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler, Descr. Gram. 27 (1802)

Panicum ciliare Retz., Observ. Bot. 4: 16 (1786); Panicum sanguinale var. ciliare (Retz.) F.Muell., Fragm. 8: 154 (1874); D. sanguinalis var. ciliaris (Retz.) Parl., Fl.Ital. 1:126 (1848). T: Canton, China, H.P.Wennerberg s.n. in Hb. Retz.; lecto: LD (photo BRI), fide S.T.Blake, Proc.Roy.Soc.Queensland 81: 11 (1969).

Panicum adscendens Kunth, in F.W.H.A.Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 80 (1815); D. adscendens (Kunth) Henrard, Blumea 1: 92 (1934). T: Humbolt s.n.; holo: P; iso: B (www - BGBM).

D. marginata Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 102 (1812); D. adscendens subsp. marginata (Link) Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 998 (1950); D. ciliaris subsp. marginata (Link) Jain & Doli Das, Ind. Forest. 99: 572 (1973). T: Brazil, Hb. Link 97; holo: B, n.v.

Illustrations:, S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 215 (2008); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 383 (2003) as var. ciliaris; J.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 440, fig.371 (2006).

Annual (without cataphylls). Flowering culms decumbent, 10–100 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous (frequently hairy on the lower portion and becoming glabrous upwards); ligule 1–4 mm long; blades flat, 2–20 cm long, 3–10 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 3–9 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 4–24 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.3–0.5 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 50–100 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.5 2.7–3.7 mm long, 0.7–1.1 mm wide; lower glume 0.3–0.7 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth (faintly rough), glabrous, acute to cleft or rounded; upper glume 1.2–2.7 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, triangular, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 2.7–3.8 mm long, glabrous or hairy with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.6–3.8 mm long (spikelet length), yellow (frequently tinged purple at maturity), cartilaginous or indurate, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous. Summer Grass.

Introduced (origin unknown; a pantropical weed). Widespread in all regions of Australia, although only one known record for Vic. Temperate heaths, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, arid tussock grasslands, and temperate sub-humid grasslands. Flowering sporadically throughout the year. Map 1162.

W.A.: 30 km along Milliwinde Rd from Gibb River Rd, B.K.Simon 4041 (BRI, DNA, K, PERTH). N.T.: Bynoe Harbour Pearl Farm, Rankin Point, A.A.Mitchell 7052 (BRI, DNA). S.A.:30 km E of Roxby, R.Bates 17354 (AD). Qld: Bundall Ck near Atherton, M.Lazarides 4227 (BRI, NT). N.S.W.: Blue Mts, C.E.Hubbard 8465 (BRI, K, NSW). A.C.T.: Old residential garden Turner, R.Pullen 45 (CANB). Vic.: Leitchville, Mr Skehan s.n., Mar. 1914 (MEL).   Tas: Hobart, L.Rodway 6 (HO).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. stenostachya, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. An aggressive invader of disturbed soil sites in both tropical and temperate regions, with the potential of occurring in all vegetation types. Digitaria ciliaris (2n = 54) is closely related to the tropical D. bicornis (2n = 72) and the temperate D. sanguinalis (2n = 36). The inflorescence number ranges from 2-10 and can be distinguished from the species listed, as well as D. violascens, D. milanjiana and D. eriantha, by the characters in the dichotomous key.

27. *Digitaria milanjiana (Rendle) Stapf, In D.Prain, Fl. Trop. Africa 9: 430 (1919)

Panicum milanjianum Rendle, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. Ser.2, 4: 56 (1894). T: Milanji, [Africa], Oct., A.Whyte s.n.; iso: BM (photo BRI).

Digitaria swynnertonii Rendle, Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 11: 227 (1911). T: Zimbabwe, Zinyumbo Hills, Swynnerton s.n. holo: BM, n.v.

Digitaria setivalva Stent, Bothalia 1: 268 (1924). T: South Africa. Springbok Flats, Burtt-Davy 1122; isosyn: K, n.v..

Digitaria mombasana C.E.Hubbard, Kew Bulletin 1926: 247 (1926). T: Kenya, Mombasa; holo: Grant in battiscombe 881 (K), n.v..

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 457 (1950); P. Goetghebeur & P. Van der Veken in E. Launert & G.V.Pope (eds), Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) 139, fig 41:57 (1989); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 379 (2003).

Perennial, rhizomatous (very short) or without rhizomes, stoloniferous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.8–2.5 mm long; blades flat, 6–15 cm long, 3.5–8.5 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 7–18 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–18, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 7–18 cm long. Central axis 0–1 cm long. Pedicels 2.1–3.1 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 60–120 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.7–3.2 mm long, 0.7–0.9 mm wide; lower glume 0.27–0.42 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acuminate; upper glume 1.5–2.1 mm long, noticably shorter than spikelet to less than half the length of spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.7–3.2 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.7–3.2 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acute, muticous. 2n = 18, 34, 45, and 54 (all J.B.Hacker, Aust. J. Bot. 36:693–700 (1988)). Jarra Grass.

Introduced (from tropical Africa). Naturalised in Qld from a couple of collections, although the cultivar 'Jarra' has been cultivated in both Qld and the N.T. Flowering Feb. to Apr.

Qld: 22km SSW of Tully, Jarra Creek Farm, Cardwell Shire, May 1991, T.J.Hall s.n. (BRI) (voucher for Jarra Grass); Walker St, Collinsville, A.R.Bean 24880 (BRI); just W of Eton, A.Holland 1198 (BRI).

A member of section Erianthae together with D. eriantha, from which it differs by the nerves of the lower lemma having minute spines. Three cultivars of this species have been introduced to Australia, 'Jarra' (Registrar of Australian Herbage Plant cultivars in Austr. J. Exptl. Agric. 33: 674 (1993), 'Arnhem' (Registrar of Australian Herbage Plant cultivars in Austr. J. Exptl. Agric. 37: 715 (1997) and 'Strickland' (Plant Varieties Journal 8: 11 (1995). 'Arnhem' is diploid (2n=18) and 'Jarra' is hexaploid (2n=72). The voucher of 'Jarra' (CPI 59745) in BRI, has two types of inflorescences, one without stiff tubercles and one with stiff tubercles (typical of D. setivalva, a synonym of D. milanjiana). D. milanjiana is noted in Flora of Tropical East Africa as having "scabrid nerves, which separates it from it allies in South Africa" whereas the account of this species in Flora Zambesiaca notes that "this character may occasionally break down". Hacker (Aus.J.Bot. 31:357-369 [1983]) studied 9 different diploid accessions exhibiting different morphologies and concluded that biologically this group belongs to a single species, and that characters such as "growth habit and lemma setigerousness are not taxonomically significant." D. milanjiana is distinguished from the Summer Grasses, D. ciliaris and D. bicornis by its perennial habit.

28. *Digitaria eriantha Steud., Flora 12: 468 (1829)

T: Cape of Good Hope, South Africa: holo: von Ludwig s.n.: holo:P (probably), n.v..

D. pentzii Stent, Bothalia 3: 147 (1930); Digitaria eriantha subsp. pentzii (Stent) Kok., Bothalia 13: 457 (1981);T: Vryburg, Vryburg District, Cape Province, S. Africa, N.H.Pentz 8510; holo: PRE n.v.

D. decumbens Stent, Bothalia 3: 150 (1930). T: Nelspuit, S.Africa, N.H.Pentz 8495; holo: PRE, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 228 (1950), as Panicum commutatum; J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Queensland 194, fig. 9 (1983), as D. decumbens; Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 377 (2003) as subsp. pentzii.

Perennial, stoloniferous. Flowering culms decumbent, 40–120 cm tall, 5–7 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 2–4 mm long; blades flat or involute, 5–20 cm long, 2–4(–7) mm wide. Inflorescence 7–13 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 3–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 5–20 cm long. Central axis 0–1 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–3 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.2–3.5 mm long; lower glume 0.2–0.5 mm long; upper glume noticably shorter than spikelet, hairy. Lower floret; lemma 2–3 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2–3 mm long, yellow to brown, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acuminate, apiculate. Pangola Grass.

Introduced (from South Africa). Mainly coastal Qld, with a couple of records from the Kimberley region, W.A. Flowering Oct. to June. Map 1165.

W.A.: Kununurra Race Course, A.A.Mitchell 2838 (BRI, PERTH); Qld: Beames St, Mareeba, 22 Dec. 1983, J.R.Clarkson 5101 (BRI, CANB); Starkvale Ck, Robinson Gorge NP, P.R.Sharpe 5138 (BRI); Rainbow Beach, Wide Bay District, S.T.Blake 23112 (BRI, CANB); Sunshine Beach, frontal high dunes, G.N.Batianoff 970127 & A.J.Franks (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Erianthae together with D. milanjiana from which it differs by the nerves of the lower lemma having no minute spines. The form of this species introduced to Australia as a pasture species, because of its rampant nature, has woolly culm bases and strong glabrous, often purplish stolons. It is known as Pangola Grass and has also been used as a stabilising species on beaches; it does not produce viable seed and must be planted vegetatively.

29. *Digitaria bicornis (Lam.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 470 (1817)

Paspalum bicorne Lam., Encycl. 1: 76 (1791). T: Sonnerat in Hb. Lamarck; holo: P n.v.; iso: US (photo BRI).

Panicum adpressum Willd., Ges. Naturfr. Freunde Berlin Neue Schriften 4: 193 (1803); D. barbata Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 91 (1809); D. rottleri Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 471 (1817); Panicum barbatum Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 33 (1829); Syntherisma barbata Nash, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 303 (1898). T: Klein s.n.; holo: B, (Hb. Willd.); iso: K (photo BRI).

D. biformis Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 92 (1809). T: Bory de St. Vincent s.n.; holo: B (Hb. Willd. 1652 – www - BGBM).

D. fimbriata Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 226 (1827); Syntherisma fimbriatum Nash, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 302 (1898). T: Hb. Link 97; holo: B, n.v.

D. barbulata Desv., Opusc. Sci. Phys. Nat. 62 (1831); D. biformis subsp. desvauxii Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 68 (1950). T: Hb. Desvaux s.n.; holo: P, n.v.

D. chrysoblephara Fig. & De Not., Ac. Rle. Sc. Torino. Class. Fis. & Mat. 2: 364 (1852); D. ciliaris Koel. subsp. chrysoblephara S.T.Blake, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 81: 12 (1969). T: Figari s.n.; holo: FL,  n.v.

D. queenslandica Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 612 (1950). T: Rockhampton, Qld, May 1908, R.Simmons; holo: W, n.v.; iso: NSW, n.v.

D. diversiflora Swallen, Rhodora 65: 356 (1963). T: Hitchcock 9636; holo: US.

Panicum sanguinale var. barcaldinese Domin, Bibl. Bot. 85: 295 (1915). T: Australia: Queensland; K.Domin 1016, holo: PR, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 73 (1950); J.F.Veldkamp, Blumea 21: 28, fig. 3c & 3d (1973); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 381 (2003).

Annual. Flowering culms decumbent, 20–80 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1–3.5 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–19.5 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 11–20 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 2–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 6.3–22 cm long. Central axis absent. Pedicelled spikelets with rigid bristles, or without bristles. Pedicels 0.2–0.4 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 70–150 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, elliptic, 2.9–3.5 mm long, 0.8–0.95 mm wide; lower glume 0.1–0.33 mm long, triangular to ovate, hyaline to membranous, smooth (faintly pitted), glabrous, acute; upper glume 2.1–2.8 mm long, noticably shorter than spikelet, triangular to lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 2.9–3.5 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing (sub-sessile spikelet), with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.8–3.4 mm long, yellow (frequently purple tinged at maturity), cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous. Summer Grass.

Introduced (from India). Widespread weed in tropical Australia. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, and coastal grasslands. Flowering mostly Feb. to Apr. Map 1163.

W.A.: Police Camp Pool, Lennard R crossing of Gibb River Rd, B.K.Simon 3863 (BRI, CANB, DNA, K, PERTH). N.T.: Yirrkala Mission, P.K.Latz 7751 (BRI, CANB, DNA); Katherine, S.T.Blake 16062 (BRI, CANB, DNA, K, L, MO, PRE). Qld: Beagle North Camp, 37 km NNE of Arukun, J.R.Clarkson 4338 (BRI, K, QRS); Burketown, B.K.Simon 3076 & T.Farrell  (BRI, CANB, K, NSW).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. stenostachya, D. setigera, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. A species preferring coarse-textured soils in tropical or subtropical areas. Closely related to D. ciliaris, differing by each spikelet pair being different or similar and bristled. Not found in temperate regions.

30. Digitaria setigera Roth ex Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 474 (1817)

T: India, B.Heyne s.n. in Hb. Roth; holo: B (photo BRI) n.v. ; iso: K (photo BRI).

Panicum pruriens Fische ex Trin.,  Gram. Panic. 77 (1826).; Digitaria pruriens (Fisch. ex Trin.) Büse, Pl. Jungh. 379 (1854). T: Marquesas Is.: Nucahiva, G.H. von Langsdorff s.n.; lecto:LE, n.v.; isolecto: BM, fide S.T. Blake, Proc. Royal Soc. Queensland 81: 18 (1969).

Panicum microbachne J. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1298 (1830); Digitaria microbachne (J. Presl) Henrard, Meded. Rijks-Herb. 61: 13 (1930). T: Philippines, Luzon, Haenke s.n. (right- and left-hand specimens); lecto: PR, n.v.; isolecto: US, W, both n.v., fide J.Reeder, J. Arnold Arbor. 29: 292 (1948).

Panicum norfolkianum Nees in S.F.L.Endlichler, Prodr. Fl. Norfolk. 18 (1833). T: insula Norfolk, F.Bauer; n.v.; holo: W, n.v.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria (1950); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 383 (2003); Wu Zhengyi & P.H.Raven (eds), Flora of China Illustrations 756, fig 756 (2007).

Annual. Flowering culms decumbent, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 1.4–3.5 mm long; blades flat, 4–18 cm long, 4–13 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, smooth or scabrous. Inflorescence 10–16 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 3–15, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 6–17 cm long. Central axis 0–4 cm long. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.3–0.7 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 50–100 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, elliptic, 2.5–3.2 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide; upper glume 0.3–1.1 mm long, less than half the length of spikelet, triangular to ovate, 0–3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, villous, acute to rounded or cleft. Lower floret; lemma 2.5–3.2 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.5–3.1 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous.

Native. Tropical Asia to N. Australia and the Pacific. In Australia, in the "top end" of N.T., the Cairns region of Qld and the Torres St. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Feb. to Apr. Map 1164.

N.T.: Peron Is., T.S.Henshall 1179 (DNA, photo BRI). Qld: Saibai Is., J.R.Clarkson 3894 (BRI, K, QRS); Mission Beach, M.S.Clemens s.n., Jan.1950 (BRI); South Johnston, J.H.Saint-Smith 21 (BRI); Mareeba, Feb.1964, D.A.Bacon s.n. (BRI).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. stenostachya, D. sanguinalis and D. veldkampiana. Australian collections of this species are meagre. Relative sizes of the glumes and spikelet distinguish it from other members of the section Digitaria.

31. *Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Fl. Carniol, 2nd edn, 1: 52 (1771)

Panicum sanguinale L., Sp. Pl. 57 (1753); Dactylon sanguinalis Vill., Hist. Pl. Dauphine 2: 69 (1787); Syntherisma sanguinalis Dulac, Fl. Hautes Pyrenees 77 (1867). T: America, Europa australi, Van Royen; iso: L (photos BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 649 (1950); N.G.Walsh in N.G.Walsh & T.J.Entwisle (eds), Fl. Victoria 2: 607, fig. 123h-i (1994); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 380 (2003).

Annual. Flowering culms decumbent, 20–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy (with papillose-based setaceous hairs); ligule 0.5–2.6 mm long; blades flat, 3–17 cm long, 2–14 mm wide, hairy, smooth or scabrous. Inflorescence 3–12 cm long, digitate or subdigitate. Racemes 4–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3–9 cm long. Central axis 0–2 cm long. Pedicelled spikelets without bristles. Pedicels 0.3–0.6 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 40–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous or hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.6–3.2 mm long, 0.8–0.95 mm wide; lower glume 0.2–0.37 mm long, triangular, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to cleft; upper glume 1.2–1.6 mm long, up to half as long as spikelet to less than half the length of spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins or with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.6–3.2 mm long, hairy (occasionally glabrous), with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins ciliate or with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 2.4–3.2 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, irregularly striate, lanceolate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, muticous. Crabgrass, Summer Grass.

Introduced (from Europe). All temperate areas of Australia, extending to S Qld. All temperate regions of the world. Dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, sub-alpine sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and eucalypt shrublands. Flowering mostly Jan. to Apr. Map 1161.

W.A. c. 7.5 km S of Bullsbrook, B.J. Lepschi & T.R. Lally BJL 3333 (AD, BRI, CANB, MEL, NSW). S.A.: Lower Torrens Gorge, Southern Lofty, E.N.S.Jackson 5971 (AD, BRI). Qld: Stanthorpe, C.E.Hubbard 5660 (BRI, K). N.S.W.: Uralla, M.Gray 3478 (CANB). A.C.T.: near Hall, at junction with Barton Hwy, E.M.Canning 6857 (BRI, CANB). Vic.: Balwyn, M.G.Corrick 7579 (BRI, CANB, HO, MEL). Tas.: Ouse, Central Highlands, D.Sharp 52 & B.K.Simon (BRI, HO, MEL, NSW).

A member of section Digitaria, together with D. ctenantha, D. didactyla, D. radicosa, D. ciliaris, D. bicornis, D. setigera, D. stenostachya and D. veldkampiana. Closely related to D. ciliaris differing by the nerves of lower lemma having minute spines. A common weed of temperate areas, preferring loamy disturbed habitats.

32. Digitaria blakei Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 79 (1950)

T: near head of Poison Ck, c. 90 miles [144.9 km] N of Hughenden, 10 Apr. 1935, S.T.Blake 8476; holo: L (photo BRI), n.v.; iso: BRI, CANB, K (photo BRI), NSW.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 78 (1950).

Perennial, without rhizomes. Flowering culms caespitose, 36–55 cm tall, 2 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5–2 mm long; blades flat, 3–6 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence 4–9 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–9, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 4–6 cm long. Central axis 2–5 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 36–42 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic, 1.5–1.8 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm wide. Glumes 1; upper glume c. 0.3mm long, less than ¼ the length of spikelet, triangular, 1 nerved. Lower floret; lemma c. 1 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, 3 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.5–1.8 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, finely transversely rugose, acute, muticous.

Fig xx (Mali Moir).

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Rare in N. Qld. Flowering Apr. Map 1142.

Qld: Ellenfield Coal Lease, 35 km NNE of Moranbah, A.McLeod 18 (BRI).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. hubbardii, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. Placed by Webster as a synonym of D. orbata, but the lower lemma is about half as long as the spikelet compared to being equal to the spikelet length in D. orbata and other species in section Parviflorae..

33. Digitaria breviglumis (Domin) Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 92 (1950)

Panicum breviglume Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 298 (1915). T: Dividing Ra., westlich von Pentland, Qld, Feb. 1910, K.Domin [1058, 1059].; holo: PR (photos BRI); iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 93 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194, fig 4 (1983).

Perennial, rhizomatous (rhizomes thick and knotted). Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 5–7 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.3–0.5 mm long; blades flat or involute (mostly), 2.5–7.5 cm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide, glabrous, smooth to scabrous. Inflorescence 2–10 cm long, on a distinct central axis or consisting of a single raceme, exserted at maturity. Racemes 1–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 1.5–2 cm long. Central axis 0.5–1 cm long. Pedicels 0.6–2.8 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 10–15 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic, 1.3–1.6 mm long, 0.5–0.6 mm wide. Glumes slightly unequal; lower glume 0.2–0.4 mm long, obovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, truncate; upper glume 0.3–0.5 mm long, less than half the length of spikelet, ovate, 0 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, truncate. Lower floret; lemma 1.3–1.6 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, 5 nerved, with nerves distinct; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.3–1.5 mm long, brown to black, cartilaginous, very finely transversely rugose, elliptic, acute, muticous.

Endemic. Tropical N.T. and Qld. Dry sclerophyll forests. Flowering Jan. to Aug. (also Oct). Map 1176.

N.T.: McMinns Bluff, near Pine Creek, I.D.Cowie 1476 & C.R.Dunlop (BRI, CANB, DNA, MEL, PERTH); Border Water hole, 25 July 1971, P.K.Latz 1628 (BRI, CANB). Qld: 39.5 km N of Musselbrook, R.W.Johnson MRS835 & M.B.Thomas (BRI, K); Mt Mulligan, J.R.Clarkson 5869 (BRI, MEL, NSW, L, PERTH, QRS); 16.5 km NNE of Yarrowmere, E.J.Thompson BUC647 & B.K.Simon (AD, BRI, CANB, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. hubbardii, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya, D. diminuta, D. fumida and D. imbricata. Distinguished on the basis of its usually incurved and terete leaves and an inflorescence of one to many racemes in which the spikelets have a unique brown to black colour of the upper floret. The leaves can sometime be very narrow and filiform and the branches fascicled at the nodes. Until the types were examined more critically for this account, the name D. breviglumis included what has been separated as D. fumida and D. diminuta. However D. breviglumis differs from these species by its habit of 1–4 inflorescence branches, narrow leaf blades and sometime fascicled branches and generally smaller stature. This species does not occur in N.S.W. and the entry in Jacobs et al. (2008) for this species refers to D. diminuta.

34. Digitaria diminuta Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 312 (1923)

T: McIntyre R., N.S.W., J.E.Ker s.n.; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 187 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194, fig 12 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 214 (2008) as D. breviglumis and 219 as D. orbata.

Perennial. Flowering culms caespitose, 10–65 cm tall, 2–4 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.4–0.8 mm long; blades 3–9 cm long, 0.2–0.5 mm wide, hairy or glabrous. Inflorescence on a distinct central axis. Racemes 4–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3.5–15 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 34–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic, 1.3–1.9 mm long, 0.55–0.75 mm wide; lower glume 0.16–0.43 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, cleft or obtuse or rounded; upper glume 0.4–0.9 mm long, less than half the length of spikelet, ovate to oblong, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, rounded or truncate or cleft, muticous. Lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.8 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing or with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea lanceolate, or ovate. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.8 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic to obovate, acute, muticous.

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Qld to central NSW. Flowering throughout the year.

Qld:near source of Poison Ck, about 90 mls N of Hughenden, S.T.Blake 8474 (BRI, CANB, K, NSW); 21 km NW of Hyde Park HS, E.J.Thompson & B.K.Simon (AD, BRI, DNA, NSW, PERTH); Boatman Stn, S.L.Everist 2833 (BRI, NSW, K, US); Mt. Ngungun, C.E.Hubbard 5925 (BRI, K). N.S.W.: Slopes of Blue Mts towards Katoomba, C.E.Hubbard 8435 (BRI, K, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. hubbardii, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya, D. breviglumis, D. fumida and D. imbricata. Differs from D. breviglumis by having at least four inflorescence branches and a 7-nerved lower lemma. Until the types were examined more critically for this account, the name D. breviglumis included what has now been separated as D. fumida and D. diminuta.  The entry for N.S.W. in Jacobs et al (2008) under D. breviglumis refers to this species.

35. Digitaria orbata Hughes Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 312 (1923)

T: Herbert's Ck, Qld, Bowman s.n.; holo: K (photo BRI); iso: BRI, MEL.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 508 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194, fig 18 (1983).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–85 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.6–4 mm long; blades flat, 6–25 cm long, 1.8–5.5 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 2–14 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 7–16 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–0.8 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 30–70 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous (rarely) or hairy, paired, elliptic, 1.3–1.8 mm long, 0.47–0.8 mm wide. Glumes 1; upper glume 0.2–0.6 mm long, less than half the length of spikelet, ovate to elliptic, 0 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, rounded to truncate or cleft. Lower floret; lemma 1.1–1.6 mm long, glabrous (occasionally with a few villous hairs on the area between the last lateral nerve and margin), without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing to with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 3–5 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret or subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.7 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic, apically rounded to acute, apiculate.

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical Qld. Tropical and subtropical rain forests, Brigalow forests, and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Mar. to Aug. Map 1141.

Qld: Dunk Is., 23 Aug. 1951, S.T.Blake 18875 (BRI, CANB); 20 miles [32 km] W of Greenvale Stn, North Kennedy District, 9 July 1954, M.Lazarides 4658 (BRI, CANB); Speewah, upper Clohesy R., Mar. 29 1948, L.J.Brass 18240 (BRI, CANB); near Binjour, 18 May 1956, N.T.Burbidge 5431 (CANB); near Durong, 20 May 1940, S.T.Blake 14245 (BRI, CANB).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. hubbardii, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. The illustration attributed to Wheeler et al (1990) in AusGrass is not this species, but D. ischaemum. This species does not occur in NSW and the record by Jacobs et al (2008) refers to D. diminuta.

36. Digitaria fumida S.T.Blake, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 84: 62 (1973)

Qld: Northgate, Brisbane, 15 May 1937, S.T.Blake 12970; holo: BRI.

Panicum parviflorum R.Br. var. pilosum Benth., as pilosa, Fl. Austral. 7: 471 (1878). T: Moreton Bay, Qld, F.M.Bailey [41]; holo: MEL; iso: BRI; iso: L, K both n.v.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms decumbent, 30–80 cm tall, 3–10 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy to glabrous; ligule 0.5–2.7 mm long; blades flat to involute, 4–18 cm long, 1.5–4.5 mm wide, hairy (hirsute) or glabrous, smooth to scabrous. Inflorescence 1.5–7 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3.5–15 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 34–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired or in 3's, elliptic, 1.3–1.9 mm long, 0.55–0.75 mm wide; lower glume 0.16–0.43 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, cleft or obtuse or rounded; upper glume 0.4–0.9 mm long, less than half the length of spikelet, ovate to oblong, 0–1 nerved (lateral nerves occasionally poorly developed), with ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, rounded or truncate or cleft. Lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.8 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing or with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 3–7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.8 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, elliptic to obovate, acute, mucronate.

Fig. xx  (W.A.Smith)

Endemic. Coastal Qld from Cape Flattery to SE Qld. Dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and arid tussock grasslands. Flowering mostly Nov. to Aug. Map 1140.

Qld: 6 km SW of Cape Flattery, J.R.Clarkson 8626 & V.J.Neldner (ATH, BRI, NSW, K); Beerwah, wallum flats, S.T.Blake 22399 (BRI, CANB); Northgate, S.T.Blake 12970 (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, K, L, MO, NSW); Coopers Plains, C.E.Hubbard (BRI, K); Arundel Estate, Labrador, B.K.Simon 4080 (BRI, NSW, K).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. hubbardii, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata.

37. *Digitaria abyssinica (Hochst.ex A.Rich.) Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1907: 213 (1907)

Panicum abyssinicum Hochst., in A.Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 360 (1851). T: Ethiopia, 22 Sep 1837, G.H.W.Schimper 82; holo: P; iso: BR, L, K (photo BRI), US (photo BRI).

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 1 (1950); W.D.Clayton & S.A.Renvoize, Gramineae (Part 3), in R.M.Polhill, Flora of Tropical East Africa 642, Fig. 147 (1982); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 375 (2003).

Perennial, rhizomatous (elongated). Flowering culms decumbent (sward forming), 5–60 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy to glabrous; ligule membranous, 1–2 mm long; blades 2–12 cm long, 3–10 mm wide. Inflorescence on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–25, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2–11 cm long. Central axis 1–9 cm long. Pedicels 1–1.8 mm long. Spikelets glabrous, paired, lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 mm long; upper glume as long as spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet. Lower floret; lemma 1.8–2 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.8–2 mm long, smooth (and reflective), acute, muticous.

Fig xx (Mali Moir).

Introduced (from tropical Africa). In SE Qld as escapes from cultivation. Also cultivated at Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney but there are no records of it becoming naturalised in the Sydney region. Flowering Feb. to May. Map 1135.

20 km W of Murgon, Apr 2004 M.Noonan s.n. (BRI); 'Bilaraby', near Beaudesert, J.B.Hacker 534 (BRI); near Pinkenba Railway Stn, Jun 1999 P.Langford s.n. (BRI); Brandon Rd, Runcorn, May 2005 S. Navie s.n. (BRI); Brisbane, Feb.1986, J.Miller s.n. (BRI).

The only member of section Glabratae. It differs from D. diffusa by slightly larger spikelets (1.8–2 mm long) and by forming denser swards.

38. Digitaria diffusa Vick., Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 3: 84 (1961)

T: Upper Colo, N.S.W., 29 Mar. 1950, J. Vickery NSW11017; holo: NSW (photo BRI).

Illustrations: S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B. Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 216 (2008); D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass. Grasses of Australia. CD-Rom Version 1.0. ( 2002).

Perennial, rhizomatous (internodes relatively short). Flowering culms decumbent (not sward forming), 20–40 cm tall, 3–6 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous (lower sheaths hirsute); ligule 0.7–1.9 mm long; blades flat (occasionally becoming involute), 1–8 cm long, 1.5–5 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 1–2.5 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–7, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 1.5–7 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–0.7 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 18–30 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic, 1.2–1.5 mm long, 0.58–0.85 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.14–0.53 mm long, triangular or ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth (minutely rough), glabrous, acute to obtuse; upper glume 1.2–1.9 mm long, as long as spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate to acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.25–1.7 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space or with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.1–1.8 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, smooth (and reflective), elliptic, keeled or rounded on the back, acute, muticous or mucronate.

Endemic. Common in the shaded forested areas of eastern Australia from Cairns to central N.S.W. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowering mostly Mar. to June. Map 1146.

Qld: 12 miles E of The Lynd, crest of western divide of Great Dividing Ra, S.T.Blake 19472 (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, NSW. PERTH); Kroombit tops SF 316, E.J.Thompson BIL174, B.K.Simon & P.Sharpe (BRI, DNA, L, MO); 5 miles N of Karara on rd to Leyburn, S.T.Blake 23597 (BRI, CANB, NSW); Cunungra, southern slopes of Mt Tamborine, S.T.Blake 12860 (BRI, CANB, NSW, PERTH). N.S.W.: slopes of Blue Mts, C.E.Hubbard 8467 (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. hubbardii, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. It is similar to D. abyssinica in that the upper lemma of this species is relatively smooth and shiny, whereas the lemma surface on closely related species is distinctly muricate, but differs from this species by having smaller spikelets and not forming dense swards.

39. Digitaria minima R.D. Webster, Brunonia 6: 192 (1984)

T: 10 km from Eungella Dam on road to Eungella, South Kennedy District, Qld, 5 Apr.1978, B.K.Simon 3270; holo: BRI; iso: L.

Illustrations: D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass. Grasses of Australia. CD-Rom Version 1.0. ( 2002).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 3–6 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.45–0.75 mm long; blades flat, 0.7–6 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, glabrous, smooth or scabrous. Inflorescence 1.5–3 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 0.7–3.5 cm long. Pedicels 1.4–2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 8–20 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, paired, elliptic, 1.2–1.55 mm long, 0.47–0.55 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.11–0.2 mm long, ovate to oblong, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, cleft to obtuse; upper glume 1–1.3 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.5 mm long, hairy or glabrous, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space or with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing or with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 3–7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.2–1.55 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate (and non-reflective), elliptic, acute, mucronate.

Fig xx (Mali Moir).

Endemic. From tropical to SE Qld and northern NSW. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and arid and semi-arid low woodlands. Flowering Mar. to Apr. Map 1145.

Qld: South Percy Is, Mar 1906, H.Tryon s.n. (BRI); 9.4km NNW of Kyong Homestead, E.J.Thompson BUC 758 B.K.Simon (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, NSW, PERTH); Kroombit Tops SF, E.J.Thompson BIL 47, B.K.Simon, & P.R.Sharpe (BRI, PERTH); near Many Peaks Ra, S.T.Blake 22619 (BRI, CANB, NSW); N.S.W.: Blacksmiths Shopp Rd, Dalmorton SF, E of Glen Innes, A.R.Bean 20134 (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. hubbardii, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. This species is similar to both D. ramularis and D. diffusa in having an upper lemma that is muricate and non-reflective; it differs from D.ramularis in having smaller spikelets, while a relativley short upper glume, erect culm and muricate upper lemma separate it from D. diffusa.

40. Digitaria ramularis (Trin.) Henrard, Blumea 1: 101 (1934)

Panicum ramulare Trin., Gram. Panic. 244 (1826). T: Nov. Holl., Hb. Lindley in Hb. Trinius; holo: LE n.v. (photo BRI).

Panicum tenuissimum Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 470 (1878), nom. illeg. non Schrank (1822); D. tenuissima Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 312 (1923). T: Rockhampton, Qld, O'Shanesy; syn; BRI, K (photo BRI); isosyn: BRI, fide D.K.Hughes, loc. cit.; Brisbane R., Moreton Bay, Qld, F.Mueller s.n.; syn: BRI, K (photo BRI), fide D.K.Hughes, loc. cit.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 619 (1950); J.F.Veldkamp, Blumea 21: 54, fig. 11c (1973); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 220 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–90 cm tall, 3–11 noded (mostly 3–7). Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 1.2–2.5 mm long; blades flat, 2.5–15 cm long, 1.5–5.5 mm wide, hairy or glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 1.5–6 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–10, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 4–13 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–0.7 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 34–60 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, solitary or paired or in 3's, elliptic, 1.6–2.1 mm long, 0.55–0.73 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.2–0.4 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to obtuse or rounded; upper glume 1.1–1.8 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, ovate to oblong, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, villous, rounded. Lower floret; lemma 1.5–2.1 mm long, hairy (scattered fine pubescence) or glabrous, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 5–7 nerved; palea vestigial to absent. Upper floret overtopping the lower floret; lemma 1.4–2 mm long, brown, cartilaginous (and non-reflective), muricate, elliptic to obovate, acute, apiculate.

Endemic. Common in the shaded forested areas of eastern Australia from the Gulf and Cape York to the Vic. border of N.S.W. Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, and temperate sub-humid woodlands. Flowering mostly Feb. to June. Map 1144.

Qld: near Gordonvale, S.T.Blake 21778 (BRI, MEL); 11 km NW of Belyando Crossing, Gregory Developmental Rd, E.J.Thompson BUC893 (BRI, CANB, K, NSW); Stanthorpe, C.E.Hubbard 5704 (BRI, K). N.S.W.: Parramatta, Woolls s.n. (BRI, MEL, NSW, K); Weddin Mt, 18 km W of Grenfell, R. Pullen 10,242 (BRI, CANB).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. hubbardii, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. Similar to D. parviflora in spikelet size, differing by the upper glume being noticeably shorter than the spikelet. Woolls s.n (cited above) from Paramatta is a good match for the type, fide Hubbard and Henrard.

41. Digitaria parviflora (R. Br.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 311 (1923)

Panicum parviflorum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810); Syntherisma parviflora (R.Br.) Newbold, Torreya 24: 9 (1924). T: Port Jackson, R.Brown Iter Australiense 6117; lecto: BM (photo BRI); isolecto: BRI, E, K (photo BRI), fide D.K.Hughes, loc. cit.

Panicum striatum R.Br., Prodr. 192 (1810) nom. illeg. non Lam. (1791); Panicum striatellum Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 914 (1817); Panicum steudelianum Domin var. striatum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 296 (1915); D. striata Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 311 (1923), nom. illeg.; Panicum australe Spreng., Syst. Veg. 1: 309 (1824), nom. superfl.; D. sanguinalis var. australis Merr., Fl. Manila 78 (1912). T: R.Brown Iter Australiense 6116; holo: BM (photo BRI); iso: BRI, K (photo BRI).

Paspalum patulum Hornem., as Paspalus patulus, Hort. Bot. Hafn. 1: 78 (1813); D. patula Henrard, Blumea 1: 101 (1934). T: Hornemann s.n.; holo; C (photo BRI).

Panicum parviflorum var. verticillare Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 296 (1915). T: Harveys Creek, n Qld, K.Domin s.n., Dec 1909; holo: PR, n.v. .

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 523 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, The grasses of southern Queensland 194, fig 19 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler,  Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed., 219 (2008).

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 40–90 cm tall, 4–7 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5–4 mm long; blades flat, 3–35 cm long, 3.1–8 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 2–7 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 4–15, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 6–20 cm long. Pedicels 0.8–1.5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 50–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, solitary or paired or in 3's, elliptic, 1.6–2.1 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.2–0.5 mm long, triangular, 0 nerved, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute to cleft; upper glume 1.6–2 mm long, as long as spikelet, elliptic (to obovate), 3 nerved (occasionally 5), with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, villous, acute to rounded. Lower floret; lemma 1.6–2.1 mm long, hairy or glabrous, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space or with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.6–2 mm long, brown to black, chartaceous, muricate (and non-reflective), elliptic, apically rounded to acute, apiculate. Small-flowered Finger Grass.

Endemic. Common in the shaded forested areas of eastern Australia from the tip of Cape York to S of Sydney. Tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowering mostly Feb. to July. Map 1143.

Qld: 43 miles [69.2 km] SSW of Mt. Garnet Township, M.Lazarides 4213 (BRI, MEL); 11 miles [17.7 km] NW of Low Holm Stn., M.Lazarides 4599 (BRI, NT); Sandy Cape, Fraser Is., S.T.Blake 22708 (BRI, CANB). N.S.W.: Fingal, S.T.Blake 18488 (BRI, CANB, DNA, K, NSW, PERTH, US); 9.7 km SW of Bulgar, R.Coveny 4112 & R.Bisby (BRI, NSW).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D.hubbardii, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. imbricata. A robust perennial closely related to D. ramularis, differing by the upper glume being subequal to the spikelet length.

42. Digitaria lanceolata R.D. Webster, Brunonia 6: 187 (1984)

T: Leichhardt District, Qld, 20 Feb 1979, E.R.Anderson 749; holo: BRI.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–40 cm tall, 3–6 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.8–2.4 mm long; blades flat, 9–15 cm long, 2.2–3.4 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 4–8 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 6–9, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 12–20 cm long. Pedicels 2.6–3.2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 40–50 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.4–3.2 mm long, 0.6–0.65 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.3–0.35 mm long, ovate or oblong, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acuminate; upper glume 2.2–2.4 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 2.4–2.8 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.1–2.4 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous or mucronate.

Fig. xx  (W.A.Smith)

Endemic. Only known from a two records from central coastal Qld. Brigalow forests. Flowering Feb. Map 1150.

Qld: 150m W of Freshwater Beach, 27km NE of Byfield, Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, J. Kemp 9809 (BRI).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. hubbardii, D. baileya and D. imbricata. This species is known only from one collection, however spikelet shape and the very long raceme branches make it readily distinguishable from all other species.

43. Digitaria dolleryi B.K.Simon, Austrobaileya 9: 196 (2010)

T: Chesterton N.P., Qld, 18 Apr 2002, C. Dollery 354 (BRI).

Annual, without rhizomes. Flowering culms decumbent to caespitose, 20–40 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.5–0.8 mm long; blades flat, 1–2.5 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence 3–6 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–5, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2–5 cm long. Pedicels 1–5 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 22–26 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, elliptic, 2–2.3 mm long, 0.9–1.1 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.7 mm long, truncate, 0 nerved, hyaline, smooth, glabrous, truncate; upper glume 1.9–2 mm long, as long as spikelet, oblong, 3 nerved, hairy, villous (with pinkish hairs), acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.8–2.1 mm long, hairy (villous with pinkish hairs), with indumentum equalling the spikelet length, without hair tufts, with a hairy first internerve space, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.8–2.1 mm long, acute to acuminate, muticous.

Fig xx (W.Smith).

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Only known from a single record from central Chesterton N.P., Qld. Flowering Apr.

A member of section Digitaria. Similar to D. imbricata by having a short web of brown hairs, but differs by the smaller spikelets.

44. Digitaria imbricata R.D. Webster, Brunonia 6: 184 (1984)

T: North Kenndy District,Qld, C.E.Hubbard & C.W.Winders 7103; holo:BRI; iso: CANB.

Digitaria baileyi var. patens Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 298 (1915). T: near Jericho, Qld, Feb. 1910, K.Domin; holo: PR, n.v.

Perennial, rhizomatous. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–60 cm tall, 3–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy (puberulent) or glabrous; ligule 0.3–1.1 mm long; blades flat to conduplicate, 2–7.5 cm long, 2.4–3.1 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 1.5–4 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 3–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3–6.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.4–0.8 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 20–34 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, lanceolate, 2.4–3.5 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.1–0.2 mm long, ovate, membranous, smooth, glabrous, acuminate; upper glume 2.3–2.7 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet, lanceolate, 3 nerved, with ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acuminate. Lower floret; lemma 2.4–2.8 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with equal internerve spacing, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret to shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.3–2.6 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous or mucronate.

Fig. xx  (W.A.Smith)

Endemic. Scattered in central and S. Qld. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowering Jan. to Feb. Map 1149.

Qld: 55 km from Charters Towers on Pentland Rb, B.K.Simon 3460 (BRI); Dividing Ra. E of Jericho, C.E.Hubbard 7842 (BRI, K); Torrens Ck, C.T.White 8744 (BRI); Sawpit Ck, White Mts NP, A.R.Bean 4822 (BRI, NSW); Near Gurulmundi, C.E.Hubbard 5174 (BRI).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. baileya and D. hubbardii. Similar to D. hubbardii but lacking the transverse line of pubescence on the lower lemma. Similar to D. dolleryi by having a short web of brown hairs, but differs by the spikelets being slightly larger.

45. Digitaria baileyi (Benth.) Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923: 311 (1923)

Panicum baileyi Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 471 (1878). T: Brisbane R., Qld, F.M.Bailey s.n.; lecto: K (photo BRI), fide D.K. Hughes, loc. cit. ; isolecto: BRI, MEL.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 59 (1950); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses SE Queensland 130, fig. 2 (spikelet); T.D.Stanley & E.M.Ross, Fl. SE Queensland 3: 234; F.M.Bailey, Compr. Cat. Queensland Pl. 608, fig. 586, as Panicum baileyi.

Perennial, rhizomatous (short and knotty). Flowering culms caespitose, 35–50 cm tall, 3–6 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy or glabrous; ligule 0.3–0.5 mm long; blades flat, 1–7 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence 6–10 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 2–4, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 3–6.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long. Spikelets hairy, lanceolate, 2.4–2.5 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.3–0.4 mm long, ovate, chartaceous, smooth, glabrous (hairy in type?), acute; upper glume 2.4–2.5 mm long, as long as spikelet, elliptic, 5 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, glabrous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 2.4–2.5 mm long, glabrous, without hair tufts, 5 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret (slightly); lemma 2.2–2.4 mm long, acute to acuminate, muticous.

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Scattered in SE Qld. Flowering Nov. to Apr. Map 1148.

Qld: Kroombit Tops SF near Cattle Creek, E.J.Thompson BIL60, B.K.Simon, & P.Sharpe (BRI); Petrie, Moreton District, 22 Feb. 1931, S.T.Blake 152 (BRI); Spur of Mt. Brisbane, 5 Apr. 1947, S.T.Blake 17400 (BRI, NSW); Fort Buchanan, D.A.Goy 285 & L.S.Smith (BRI); Shoalwater Bay, R. Brown Iter Australiense 6119 p.p. (BRI, K).

A member of section Parviflorae, together with D. blakei, D. orbata, D. breviglumis, D. diffusa, D. minima, D. ramularis, D. parviflora, D. lanceolata, D. hubbardii and D. imbricata. R.D. Webster in Brunonia 6:212 (1983) maintains this is a hybrid between D. coenicola and D. parviflora but presents no evidence to support this claim.

46. Digitaria cowiei B.K.Simon,  Austrobaileya 9: 194 (2010)

T: Amungee Mungee Stn, N.T., 02 May 1991, I.D.Cowie 1752 & B.A.Wilson; holo: BRI; iso: DNA.

Annual. Flowering culms caespitose, 30–45 cm tall, 1–2 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy; ligule 0.8–1.2 mm long; blades flat, 2–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, hairy, scabrous. Inflorescence 7–12 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 4–6, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 2.5–4.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.2–1.2 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 20–24 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, paired, elliptic, 1.6–1.7 mm long, 0.7–0.8 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0.1–0.2 mm long; upper glume 1.3–1.4 mm long, noticably shorter than spikelet, oblong, 5 nerved, hairy, setose, rounded. Lower floret; lemma 1.6–1.7 mm long, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, 7 nerved; palea absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.6 mm long, brown, cartilaginous, muricate, lanceolate, acuminate, muticous.

Fig xx (W.Smith).

Endemic. Tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Only known from the "top end" of the N.T. Flowering May.

N.T.: Escarpment behind Redbank Mine accommodation, D.Halford 845122 (BRI, DNA).

A distinctive annual grass with very small hairy spikelets. It differs from D. velutina by having fewer spikelets on the lowermost primary inflorescence branch and by the upper glume being 5 nerved. A member of section Digitaria.

47. *Digitaria velutina (Forsskal) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51 (1812)

Phalaris velutina Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 17 (1775). T: Hb. Forsskal; holo: C.

Illustrations: J.T.Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 778 (1950); P. Goetghebeur & P. Van der Veken in E. Launert & G.V.Pope (eds), Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) 139, fig 41: 49 (1989); Linda A.Vorobik in M.E.Barkworth, K.M.Capels, S.Long & M.B.Piep (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico 25: 379 (2003).

Annual. Flowering culms decumbent, 20–70 cm tall, 2–5 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5–2.2 mm long; blades flat, 3.5–14 cm long, 4–11 mm wide, hairy (hirsute), smooth. Inflorescence 9–13 cm long, on a distinct central axis. Racemes 7–20, usually bearing spikelets to base, not long and rigid, 5–12 cm long. Central axis 5–7 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–0.7 mm long, apices truncate. Spikelets 40–80 on a typical lowermost primary branch, paired, lanceolate to elliptic, 1.6–2 mm long, 0.5–0.6 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 0–0.24 mm long, ovate, 0 nerved, hyaline to membranous, smooth, glabrous, acute; upper glume 1.2–1.6 mm long, slightly shorter than spikelet to noticably shorter than spikelet, elliptic, 3 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, villous, acute. Lower floret; lemma 1.6–2 mm long, hairy (depressed hairs between the lateral nerves), with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, without hair tufts, with a glabrous first internerve space, with the first internerve space wider than the second, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.6–2 mm long, yellow (turning purple at maturity), chartaceous to cartilaginous, irregularly striate, elliptic, acute, muticous.

Introduced (from north and southern Africa). Known only from the Sydney region of N.S.W.; seeds were introduced to the Sydney Botanic Gardens from Uganda in the early part of the 20th century. Flowering Jan. to May. Map 1166.

N.S.W.: Sydney, cnr of Leacocks Lane and Hume Hwy, Jan 2001 Van Klaphake s.n. (BRI), May 2005 Van Klaphake s.n. (BRI); Sydney Botanical Gardens, Jan 2003 Van Klaphake s.n. (BRI).

A member of section Digitaria.

Excluded Species (from APNI)

D. insularis

D. debilis (Desf.) Willd., D. horizontalis Willd.  Cross, D.O. & Vickery, J.W. (1950) List of the naturalised grasses in New South Wales. Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium 1(5): 277

Digitaria mariannensis Merr. Flora of Australia 50: 498

Digitaria stolonifera Schrad. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      HOMOPHOLIS

B.K.Simon, C.M.Weiller & R.D.Webster

Homopholis C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 126 (1934);  from Greek homos (alike) and pholis (horny scale).

Type: H. belsonii C.E.Hubb.

Perennial, rhizomatous, stoloniferous. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule membranous, apically rounded; blades flat, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence not fully exserted. Apices cupuliform. Spikelets with disarticulation at the base of the spikelet, solitary, dorsally compressed, lanceolate. Glumes 2, very unequal, awnless, distinctly keeled or rounded on the back; lower glume oblong to obovate, membranous to chartaceous (keeled), smooth to scabrous, glabrous, acuminate to cleft, muticous; upper glume lanceolate, 7 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy or glabrous, strigose, acuminate, muticous. Lower floret; lemma chartaceous, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, with a hairy first internerve space, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved. With nerves distinct; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 5–7 nerved, yellow, decidedly firmer than glumes, cartilaginous, smooth, lanceolate, rounded on the back, obscurely nerved, margins flat but not noticeably thinner than body, glabrous, base without special modifications, not recurved apically or recurved apically, truncate to acuminate, muticous or mucronate; palea cartilaginous. Hilum short.

A genus of 1 species endemic in northern NSW and southern Qld. It is closely related to the recently recognised genus Walwhalleya, differing by the lower glume being to half the spikelet length or absent.

C.E.Hubbard, Homopholis belsonii C.E.Hubbard, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 33: t. 3231 (1934); R.D.Webster, Homopholis in Austral. Paniceae 94–97 (1987); K.E.Wills, R.D.B.Whalley and J.J.Bruhl, Systematic Studies in Paniceae (Poaceae): Homopholis and Whalleya gen. et sp. nov. Australian Systematic Botany 13: 437–468 (2000).

Homopholis belsonii C.E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 127 (1934)

T: Head of Dogwood Ck, E of Gurulmundi, Darling Downs District, Qld, Nov. 1930, E.H.Belson s.n.; holo: K, 4 specimens (photos BRI); iso: BRI.

Illustrations: J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses SE Queensland 174 (1973); T.D.Stanley & E.M.Ross, Fl. SE Queensland 3: 235, fig. 37G (1989); S.W.L.Jacobs & C.A.Wall in G.J.Harden (ed.), Fl. New South Wales 4: 462 (1993).

Stoloniferous. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 20–40 cm tall, 5–9 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.8–1.1 mm long; blades flat, 5–15 cm long, 2–4.5 mm wide, smooth. Inflorescence 8–15 cm long. Racemes 8–15 cm long. Pedicels 5–20 mm long, apices cupuliform. Spikelets 2–3 on a typical lowermost primary branch, solitary, lanceolate, 4.8–6.1 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide. Glumes distinctly keeled or rounded on the back; lower glume 4.8–6.1 mm long (as long as the spikelet), lanceolate, 7 nerved, membranous to chartaceous (keeled), smooth to scabrous, glabrous, acuminate, muticous; upper glume 4.5–5.7 mm long, lanceolate, 7 nerved, with non-ciliate margins and submargins, hairy, strigose, acuminate, muticous. Lower floret; lemma 4.2–5.5 mm long, chartaceous, hairy, with indumentum shorter than the spikelet, with a hairy first internerve space, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial, or absent. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.5–3 mm long, yellow, cartilaginous, lanceolate, obscurely nerved, margins flat but not noticeably thinner than body, glabrous, base without special modifications, acute to acuminate, muticous or mucronate.

Endemic. Rarely collected from the Darling Downs, Qld and NW Plains, N.S.W. Jacobs et al. (2008, Grasses of New South Wales) reports it as locally abundant. Brigalow forests and temperate sub-humid woodlands. Flowering Feb. to May. Map 1177.

Qld: Dogwood Ck, E of Gurulmundi, Nov.1934, E.H.Belson s.n. (BRI, NSW, US); Palardo, S.T.Blake 7599 (BRI); 6 km W of Jondaryan - Nungil Rd, near cattle yards, I.L.Menkens DDH29  (BRI, CANB); Jondaryan, S.T.Blake 13252 (AD, BRI, CANB, K, MO, NSW). N.S.W.; Warivan, 7.4 km from North Star on Warialda Rd, C.W.E.Moore 8842 (BRI, CANB).

This species with its very attractive open inflorescence was collected first in the 1930's and then not again til the 1990's, when it has found to have been more abundant than previously thought.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           WALWHALLEYA

B.K.Simon, C.M.Weiller & R.D.Webster

Walwhalleya (K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl) K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl Aust. Syst. Bot. 19: 327 (2006), Named for R.D.B. Whalley, grassland ecologist from University of New England.

Type: Walwhalleya pungens (K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl ) Wills & Bruhl.

Whalleya K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl, Austral. Syst. Bot. 13: 462–463 ( 2000).

Perennial, rhizomatous or without rhizomes. Flowering culms caespitose. Leaves: ligule membranous. Plants bisexual, with hermaphrodite florets. Inflorescence a panicle, exserted at maturity. Apices cupuliform. Spikelets with disarticulation at the base of the spikelet, solitary, dorsally compressed. Glumes ± equal, awnless; lower glume membranous, glabrous; upper glume with non-ciliate margins and submargins, muticous or mucronate. Lower floret; lemma glabrous, with a glabrous first internerve space. With nerves distinct. Upper floret bisexual; lemma indurate, smooth or irregularly striate, elliptic, rounded on the back, obscurely nerved, margins recurved and not noticeably thinner than body; palea indurate. Hilum short.

Three species endemic to Australia. Distinctive features include a notched upper palea apex, with a central depression, a very finely muricate upper palea and an upper lemma clearly visible at a high magnification (x 50), pronounced and raised nerves on the lower lemma and a lower glume 60–90% of spikelet length.

K.E. Wills, R.D.B. Whalley and J.J. Bruhl, Systematic Studies in Paniceae (Poaceae): Homopholis and Whalleya gen. et sp. nov. Aust. Syst. Bot. 13: 437–468 (2000); J.J. Bruhl, P.G. Wilson, K.E. Wills, Grass not fungus: Walwhalleya nom. nov. (Poaceae, Paniceae). Aust. Syst. Bot. 19: 327–328 (2006).

1  Spikelets to 2.9 mm long; nerves of lower lemma with spicules; lower and   upper  florets subequal	1. W. subxerophila
1:  Spikelets at least 3 mm long; nerves of lower lemma smooth; upper floret shorter than lower floret
2   Upper glume glabrous and acuminate; leaf blades flat and without pungent tip	2. W. proluta
2:  Upper glume scabrous and acute; leaf blades involute and with pungent tip	3. W. pungens

1. Walwhalleya subxerophila (Domin) K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl, Australian Sytematic Botany 19: 327 (2006)

Panicum subxerophilum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 316 (1915); Whalleya subxerophilum (Domin) K.E.Wills & J.J.Bruhl, Aust. Syst. Bot. 13: 465 (2000). T: Dividing Ra. near Jericho, Qld, Mar. 1910, K.Domin; holo (4 sheets): PR (photos BRI).

Illustrations: D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); D.J.B.Wheeler, S.W.L.Jacobs & R.D.B.Whaley, Grasses of NSW 4^th edn, 400 (2008).

Perennial (with a thickened crown at ground level). Flowering culms 40–70 cm tall, 6–10 noded. Leaves: sheaths hairy; ligule 1.2–2 mm long; blades flat, 3–13 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 7–23 cm long. Racemes 7–22 cm long. Pedicels 1–8 mm long. Spikelets 8–20 on a typical lowermost primary branch, elliptic, 2.2–2.7 mm long, 0.9–1.1 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 1.4–2 mm long (0.6–0.9 x spikelet length), ovate or lanceolate, 3 nerved or 5 nerved, rough to scabrous, acute, muticous or mucronate; upper glume 3 mm long, elliptic, 7 nerved or 9 nerved, scabrous (pronounced towards the apex), acute to rounded, muticous or mucronate. Lower floret; lemma 2.2–2.7 mm long, membranous, with margins or submargins glabrous, 7 nerved or 9 nerved; palea absent (or present as a small scale). Upper floret subequal to the lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.3 mm long, yellow, smooth, glabrous, base without special modifications, acute, mucronate. Gilgai Grass.

Endemic. Subtropical central Qld and N.S.W. Brigalow forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and acacia shrublands. Flowering mostly Nov. to June. Map 1178.

Qld: 28 km E of Goondwindi on Cunningham Hwy, N. Snow 7316 & B. Simon (BRI, MO); Charleville, C.E.Hubbard & C.W.Winders 6134 (BRI, CANB); Myall Park, S.T.Blake 21260 (BRI). N.S.W.: 8 mi [12.9 km] NE of Dubbo, R.Coveny 2465 (BRI, CANB); 32 km W of Girilambone on Cobar Road, C.W.E.Moore 7651 (CANB).

Distinctive features include the presence of pronounced scabrosities on the upper glume and lower lemma, the stout wiry culms, and absence of a lower palea.

2. Walwhalleya proluta (F. Muell.) K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl, Australian Sytematic Botany 19: 327 (2006)

Panicum prolutum F.Muell., Trans. & Proc. Victorian Inst. Advancem. Sci. 46 (1855); Whalleya proluta K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl, Austral. Syst. Bot. 13: 462–463 (2000). T: Avoca, Broughton and Leight R., Vic., F.Mueller; lecto: MEL; isolecto: BRI, K (photo BRI), fide R.D.Webster, Austral. Paniceae 96 (1987).

Illustrations: T.D.Stanley & E.M.Ross, Fl. SE Queensland 3: 195, fig. 30B (1989); S.W.L.Jacobs & C.A.Wall in G.J.Harden (ed.); N.G.Walsh in N.G.Walsh & T.J.Entwisle (eds), Fl. Victoria 2: 607, fig. 123a-b (1994); D.J.B.Wheeler, S.W.L.Jacobs & R.D.B.Whaley, Grasses of NSW 4^th edn, 400 (2008).

Rhizomatous (with short internodes) or without rhizomes (with a hard crown at ground level). Flowering culms 30–100 cm tall, 4–8 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5–4 mm long, acute or apically rounded (becoming distorted); blades flat, 3.5–20 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Plants bisexual. Inflorescence 10–28 cm long (thickened and spongy at the base). Racemes 7–18 cm long. Pedicels 3–15 mm long. Spikelets lanceolate, 3.2–3.8 mm long, 1.1–1.2 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 2–3.2 mm long (ca. 0.6–0.8 x spikelet length), oblong or elliptic, 3 nerved or 5 nerved, smooth, acute to cleft, muticous; upper glume 3–3.6 mm long, lanceolate to elliptic, 7 nerved (raised and pronounced), glabrous, acuminate, muticous. Lower floret; lemma 3–3.6 mm long, membranous, 7 nerved; palea vestigial (hyaline and 0.6–0.8mm long). Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 1.9–2.4 mm long, yellow, smooth or irregularly striate (obscure), glabrous (the apex and base with short clavate hairs), constricted at the base, recurved apically, apically rounded to acute, apiculate.

Endemic. S.E. Australia (S.A, Vic., N.S.W. & Qld), mainly more inland. Dry sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, and eucalypt shrublands. Flowering Oct. to May. Map 1179.

S.A.: Mintaro, D.E.Symon 12933 (AD, BRI, CANB, K). Qld: Morven, S.T.Blake 11007 (BRI, CANB, NSW, PERTH); Narine, S.T.Blake 10730 (AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, K, L, LE, MO, NSW, PERTH, PRE, SP, SRGH, US). N.S.W.:Morundah, A.J.Brown 273 (BRI, CANB, MEL, HO). Vic.: Lilliput, Murray Valley, A.J.Brown 274 (BRI, CANB, MEL).

Walwhalleya proluta has in common with Homopholis belsonii the overall form of the inflorescence, a membranous ligule, pronounced raised nerves on the lower lemma, and the C₃  leaf anatomy.

3. Walwhalleya pungens (K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl) K.E. Wills & J.J. Bruhl, Australian Sytematic Botany 19: 327 (2006)

Whalleya pungens Wills & Bruhl, Aust. Syst. Bot. 13: 463 (2000). T: Woodsreef, N.S.W., 11 Dec 1995, K.E.Mills 100e, J.J.Bruhl, R.D.B.Whaley & J.R.Hosking, holo: NSW; iso: BRI, CANB, K, MEL, NE.

Illustrations: K.E.Wills, R.D.B.Whalley, J.J.Bruhl, Australian Syst. Bot. 13:445, Fig.1 (2000); D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); D.J.B.Wheeler, S.W.L.Jacobs & R.D.B.Whaley, Grasses of NSW 4^th edn, 400 (2008).

Stoloniferous. Flowering culms 10–45 cm tall, 4–8 noded. Leaves: sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.7–1.9 mm long, apically rounded to truncate; blades involute, 1.7–7 cm long, 1.9–3 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous. Inflorescence 3–30 cm long. Racemes 1.5 5–17.5 cm long. Pedicels 7–100 mm long. Spikelets 1–6 on a typical lowermost primary branch, elliptic, 3–3.7 mm long, 1.1–1.8 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume 2.2–3 mm long, elliptic, 3–5 nerved (-7), scabrous, acute, muticous; upper glume 2.9–3.5 mm long, elliptic, 7–9 nerved, scabrous, acute, muticous. Lower floret; lemma 2.8–3.3 mm long, chartaceous, 7–9 nerved; palea vestigial; palea linear. Upper floret shorter than the lower floret; lemma 2.5–2.9 mm long, very finely muricate, glabrous, base without special modifications, recurved apically, acute to acuminate, apiculate.

Endemic. Restricted to a small region of the N.W. Slopes of N.S.W. Flowering Oct. Map 1180.

N.S.W.: W of Woodsreef mine, 28 Oct. 1993, J.R.Hosking 842 (CBG in CANB); Sunnyside, Bingara-Upper Bingara Rd, 2.5 km from Fossickers Hwy, Bingara, I.L.Menkins 0229 (BRI, CANB, NSW, NE).

Distinctive features include the pungent leaf tips, involute leaf blades and well-rounded elliptic spikelets.