Digitaria fauriei Ohwi

This species is reported in the literature to have paired spikelets, but in fact they are ternate and the hairs are verrucose with coiled tips, not capitate. The species is close to the widespread, weedy Digitaria violascens, but is remarkable for its very short upper glume, clearly exposing the purple upper floret, and its curling spikelet hairs.

Annuals; culm tufted, 15-20 cm high, glabrous. Blade 3-5 cm long, 2-4 mm wide; sheath subcompressed, more or less pubescent; ligule ca. 0.4 mm long, truncate, membranaceous. Inflorescence in 2-4 digitate raceme; 3-5 cm long; rachis narrow, 0.8-1 mm wide, margins winged, scabrous. Spikelets paired, unequally pedicelate, oblong-elliptic, acute, 1.3-1.5 mm long, pale green; glumes shortly pilose, covered with yellow bent capitate hairs, lower glume obscure; upper glume 1/2-1/4 as long as spikelet; lower lemma oblong-ovate, acute; anther 0.3-0.5 mm long.

Annual. Culms tufted, shortly stoloniferous at base, 15–20 cm tall, glabrous. Leaf sheaths subcompressed, glabrescent; leaf blades 3–5 × 0.2–0.4 cm, sparsely pilose; ligule ca. 0.4 mm, truncate. Inflorescence subdigitate; racemes 2–4, erect, slender, 3–5 cm; spikelets ternate; rachis winged, 0.8–1 mm broad, wing broader than midrib, margins scabrous. Spikelets oblong-elliptic, 1.3–1.5 mm, pale green, apex acute, hairs white becoming dirty yellow, verrucose, often with coiled tips; lower glume absent; upper glume 1/4–1/2 as long as spikelet; lower lemma elliptic, 5–7-veined, pilose, obtuse; upper lemma purplish black at maturity, elliptic-ovate, subequaling lower lemma. Anthers 0.3–0.5 mm. Fl. and fr. autumn.

Endemic to Taiwan, in sunny places of the northern coastal areas.

* Near seashores, open places. Taiwan (Taibei).