Digitaria oraria R.D. Webster. Brunonia 6: 195 (1983).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: R.L. Specht 201, 8 Apr 1948, Australia: Northern Territory: Arnhem Land, Little Lagoon (CANB; IT: BRI, L, MEL, NSW, PERTH, US-2116210).
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 40–70 cm tall, 2–5 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, 2–8 cm long, 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid or compound, a raceme, with racemose branches. Racemes 8.5–14 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–0.2 cm long.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. 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, dorsally compressed, 2.2–2.4 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic, 2.2–2.4 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, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2–2.4 mm long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Barkly Tableland. Queensland: Wide Bay.
Notes. A poorly collected species, closely related to D. gibbosa and D. leucostachya.
Native; N.T. and Qld. In tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands and coastal grasslands. Flowers Apr.-June.
