Digitaria baileyi (Benth.) D. K.
Hughes. Bull. Misc. Inform. 311 (1923).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum baileyi
Benth.Fl. Austral., 7: 471 (1878).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Bailey s.n., Australia:
Queensland: Brisbane River
(K; IT: MEL). LT designated by Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria 58 (1950). ST: McGillivray
s.n., Australia: Queensland: Port Curtis.
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (471 as Panicum
baileyi), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms erect or decumbent, 45–90 cm tall, 5–12 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or bearded. Lateral branches
simple or branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles
absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, 3–14 cm long, 2–5 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scabrous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence subdigitate, with racemose branches. Racemes 6–9, ascending or
spreading, 7–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–6 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, lanceolate
or oblong, dorsally compressed, 2.2–2.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up
to lowest fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, 0 -nerved. Upper
glume elliptic, 2.2–2.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper
glume surface indumented. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of
spikelet, membranous, 5(–7) -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.1–2.5
mm long, without keel. Lodicules present.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland: Burke, Leichhardt,
Moreton, Port Curtis.
Notes. Flowers
Feb.-Apr.
