Setaria barbata* (Lam.) Kunth. Rev.
Gram. 1: 47 (1829).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
barbatum Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 1: 171 (1791).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: P. Commerson s.n., no date, Mauritius
(P; IT: US-80482 (fragm. ex P-LA)). IT: P. Commerson 136, Mauritius
(L).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Rhizomes absent. Culms decumbent, 10–150(–200) cm tall. Mid-culm nodes
pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, flat or
plicate, 5–30 cm long, 5–20(–30) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth,
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 3–25 cm long, contracted
about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles. 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, 2–3.2 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 3–5
-nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 1.5–2.1 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5–9
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, male or barren, with palea.
Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 7
-nerved.
Fertile lemma 2–3 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate.
Continental Distribution:
Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland: South Kennedy.
Notes.
Introduced; Qld. In tropical and subtropical rain forests. Flowers July.
