| Synonyms: |
Digitaria melanochila Stapf Digitaria scaettae Robyns Digitaria scaettae Robyns var. glabra Robyns & Van der Veken Digitaria tricostulata (Hack.) Henrard Panicum puberulum var. tricostulatum Hack. Panicum thouaresianum Fluegge |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
A loosely caespitose annual. Culms 20–40(80) cm., erect, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous. Leaf sheaths glabrous. Ligule c. 2 mm. long, rounded triangular, entire. Leaf laminae 3–20 × 0.2–0.6 cm., linear, flat, glabrous, sometimes scaberulous on both surfaces, basally often with a few bulbous-based bristles, scaberulous along the margin. Inflorescence of 3–7 racemes, 7–15 cm. long, a few together or all solitary along a short common axis, often pseudoviviparous. Rhachis triquetrous, broadly winged, up to 1 mm. broad, smooth with scabrous margins. Pedicels 3-nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, terete to compressed, minutely scaberulous, broadened at the apex, bearing a poorly developed coronula with cilia up to 0.3 trim. long. Spikelets 1.2–1.8 mm. long, ovate. Inferior glume absent. Superior glume 1/3–4/5 of the spikelet in length, ovate-oblong, 3-nerved, hyaline, glabrous or appressed hairy, hairs white, capitate-apiculate. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate with recurved margins, 5-nerved, hyaline, glabrous or appressed hairy. Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate, apiculate. dark brown. |
| Type location: |
|
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | On disturbed soils. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Cameroon to Kenya, south to South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe |
| FZ divisions: | MS |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 144. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 35. As Digitaria melanochila 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. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 194. Troupin, G. & Maquet, P. (1988). Poaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 236. (Includes a picture). |