Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.
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Derivation
Setaria P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51 (1812), nom. cons.;
from the Latin seta (a bristle), alluding to bristly inflorescences.
incrassata- Latin for thickened. Culm base swollen.
Published in
Abh. Konigl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 2: 122 (1891).
Common synonyms
Setaria porphyrantha Stapf
Habit
Perennial, tufted. Rhizomes short. Basal leaf sheaths yellow. Culms 20200
cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent or glabrous (rarely). Ligule a fringe of hairs.
Leaf-blades flat or convolute, 1060 cm long, 115 mm wide. Leaf-blade
apex attenuate, filiform.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle spiciform, linear, continuous or interrupted,
330 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis, with
evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis pubescent or pilose.
Spikelets
Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Involucre composed of bristles, 215
mm long. Involucral bristles persistent, 810 in principal whorl, flexible,
antrorsely scaberulous, glabrous. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1
fertile floret, without rhachilla extension, ovate or orbicular, laterally compressed,
gibbous, 23(4) mm long, falling entire.
Glumes
Glumes thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, 3366% of length
of spikelet, membranous, 57-nerved. Lower glume apex obtuse or acute.
Upper glume ovate, 70100% of length of spikelet, membranous, (5)79(11)-nerved.
Upper glume apex acute.
Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate, 100%
of length of spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved, acute. Fertile lemma ovate, laterally
compressed, gibbous, 1.53.5 mm long, indurate. Lemma surface punctate,
rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute, indurate.
Continental Distribution:
Africa, Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia: Gardner. Northern Territory: Central Australia South. Queensland: Port Curtis, Wide Bay, Warrego.
Classification. (GPWG
2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae
Inflorescence (photo)
© Queensland Herbarium
by D. Sharp
Courtesy of the Toowoomba Field Naturalist Club