Poaceae
Digitaria

Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers.

First published in Syn. Pl. 1: 85 (1805)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & Subtropical Old World. It is an annual or perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as animal food and a medicine, has environmental uses and for food.

Descriptions

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit
A loosely caespitose annual or short lived perennial, sometimes with a short rhizome or matforming with creeping runners, rooting at the nodes.
Morphology Culms
Culms 20–50(70) cm., erect, ascending or creeping, glabrous, nodes dark and glabrous.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Leaf sheaths glabrous to loosely hairy.
Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule 0.5–1.5 mm. long, truncate, entire.
Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina
Leaf laminae (1)5–10(15) × 0.2×0.6 cm., linear, flat, smooth or minutely scaberulous, subglabrous or with scattered bulbous based bristles on both surfaces, scabrous along the margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of (1)2(4) racemes, (1.5)2.5–10(17) cm. long, one subsessile, the other pedicellate on a very short common axis, erect to patent.
Morphology Leaves Rachis
Rhachis broadly winged, up to 1.2 mm. broad, smooth with scabrous margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 3-nate, 0.5–2.5 mm. long, subterete, smooth, broadened at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets (1.2)1.5–2.0(2.2) mm. long, ovate-oblong, broadest in or above the middle.
Inferior
Inferior glume obsolete, truncate, nerveless, hyaline. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate-oblong with narrow, recurved margins, (5)7-nerved, appressed hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Superior glume as long as the spikelet, ovateoblong, 3–5-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, slightly undulating, whitish or purplish tinged, with rough, papillose walls. Inferior glume obsolete, truncate, nerveless, hyaline.
Superior
Superior glume as long as the spikelet, ovateoblong, 3–5-nerved, appressed hairy, hairs fine, slightly undulating, whitish or purplish tinged, with rough, papillose walls. Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute, pale yellow to bluish green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Superior lemma as long as the spikelet, oblong, acute, pale yellow to bluish green. Inferior lemma as long as the spikelet, ovate-oblong with narrow, recurved margins, (5)7-nerved, appressed hairy.
[FZ]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Annual or sometimes a short-lived perennial, varying from a prostrate creeper to a leafy upright plant; culms 10–60 cm. high, ascending from a stoloniferous base.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades 1–9 cm. long, 1–5 mm. wide, the blades and sheaths usually glabrous but occasionally hirsute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2–4 (typically 2) digitate racemes; racemes 1–10 cm. long, the spikelets ternate on a ribbon-like winged rhachis with low rounded midrib.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets narrowly ovate-elliptic, 1.2–1.8 mm. long; lower glume a minute hyaline rim; upper glume as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved, with short appressed verrucose hairs between the nerves (sometimes glabrous between 1st and 2nd lateral nerves); lower lemma as long as the spikelet, 7-nerved, pubescent with verrucose hairs or these appressed and barely visible (sometimes glabrous beside midrib and between 2nd and 3rd nerves); fruit ellipsoid, pallid, light brown or light grey.
Habitat
Open places in deciduous bushland; disturbed soils, old farmland and pathsides generally; 0–2300 m.
Distribution
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 throughout the Old World tropicsintroduced to the New World
[FTEA]

Morphology General Habit
Annual, or perennial; short-lived; mat forming. Stolons present. Culms rambling; 10-60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1-9 cm long; 1-5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 2-4; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 1-10 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with rounded midrib. Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2-1.8 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.2-1.8 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous, or pubescent; with verruculose hairs. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous, or pubescent; with verruculose hairs; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.2-1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; pallid, or grey, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.
Distribution
Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern and northwestern. North America: southeast USA. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.
Reference
Paniceae. FTEA.
[GB]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Caribbean. Elevation range: 0–500 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Cesar.
Habit
Herb.
[UPFC]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Annual or short-lived perennial, either erect or prostrate and creeping, up to 60 cm high; leaves broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2–4 (typically 2) digitate racemes; racemes 1–10 cm long, the spikelets in threes on a ribbon-like winged rhachis with low rounded midrib
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets narrowly ovate-elliptic, 1.2–1.8 mm long; lower glume a minute hyaline rim; upper glume as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved, with short appressed verrucose hairs between the nerves (sometimes glabrous between the 1st and 2nd lateral nerves); lower lemma 7-nerved, pubescent with verrucose hairs or these appressed and barely visible (sometimes glabrous beside the midrib and between the 2nd and 3rd nerves); fruit ellipsoid, pallid, light brown or light grey.
Distribution
N1; S2, 3 throughout the Old World tropics; introduced to the New World.
[FSOM]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit
Creeping stoloniferous annual or short-lived perennial up to about 30 cm. high
Ecology
Roadsides, fallow land and waste places.
[FWTA]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Naturalizada y adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 500 m.; Llanura del Caribe.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Uses

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0