Digitaria abyssinica* (Hochst. ex
A. Rich.) Stapf. Bull.
Misc. Inform. 213 (1907).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
abyssinicum Hochst. ex A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 360–361 (1850).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: W. Schimper U. i. 1840 Sect. primo, 82,
22 Sep 1837, Ethiopia: in fruticetis opacis ad radices septrionales montis
scholoda (P; IT: BR, K, L, US-1645178S, US-3298785, US-1063861 (ex B),
US-945058 (ex BM), WAG).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Stolons present. Culms decumbent or
sprawling, stature slender to delicate, 5–60 cm tall, 2–6 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface
or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades
linear or lanceolate, flat, 2–15 cm long, 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence subdigitate, with racemose branches. Racemes 2–25, 2–11 cm long.
Central inflorescence axis 1–9 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower
floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile
florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic
or ovate, dorsally compressed, 1.5–2 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate or oblate,
membranous, without keels, 0–1 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 1.4–1.8 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 3–7 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.5
mm long, without keel. Lodicules present.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific,
and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland: Moreton.
Notes.
Introduced. Flowers Feb.-May.
