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| Synonyms: |
Digitaria abyssinica var. scalarum (Schweinf.) Stapf Digitaria abyssinica auct. Digitaria ciliaris Vanderyst Digitaria hackelii (Pilg.) Stapf Digitaria mutica Rendle Digitaria scalarum var. elgonensis C.E. Hubbard & Snowden Digitaria somalensis Chiov. Digitaria tangaensis Henrard Digitaria vestita Fig. & DeNot. var. scalarum (Schweinf.) Henrard Panicum hackelii Pilg. Panicum muticum Hochst. ex A. Rich. Panicum scalarum Schweinf. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
A rhizomatous perennial, rhizome conspicuously well developed, growing deeply, straight with vertically growing offshoots, much branched at groundlevel, sometimes stoloniferous. Culms (10)20–40 cm., ascending from a creeping base, glabrous, nodes dark, glabrous or hairy. Leaf sheaths often with many bulbous based bristles, sometimes scaberulous. Ligule 1–3 mm. long, truncate, erose or subentire. Leaf laminae 5–10 × 0.3–0.6 cm., linear, flat or involute, glabrous or sometimes loosely hairy on both surfaces, scabrous along the crisped margin. Inflorescence composed of (2)4–10(12) racemes, (1)3–10 cm. long, erect to patent, sometimes branched at the base, solitary along a well developed common axis. Rhachis triquetrous, narrowly winged, up to 0.4 mm. broad, smooth to scaberulous, with scaberulous margins. Pedicels 2 nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, subterete to triangular, scaberulous, scarcely broadened at the apex. Spikelets (1.6)1.7–2.2(2.4) mm. long, oblong-ovate, swollen. Inferior glume 1/10–1/4 of the spikelet, conspicuously heteromorphic, often erose or truncate, nerveless, glabrous, hyaline, sometimes purplish. Superior glume c.4/5 of to as long as the spikelet, ovate to oblong, 5(7)-nerved, glabrous or with some short, fine hairs in a marginal row, pale green, often purplish tinged. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate-oblong with recurved margins, 7-nerved, glabrous or with a marginal row of short, fine hairs, pale green, often purplish tinged. Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate-oblong, apiculate, swollen, bluish green to dark brown. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Sandy flood plains, wet spots in disturbed sandy soils, weed in gardens. |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | from Cameroon to Ethiopia, southwards to South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Botswana distribution: | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 159 - 161. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 36. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 102. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 134. |
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