Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.

no known common names


Info

Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Setaria = "bearing bristles" [Latin] refering to the bristles of the inflorescence
Species etymology:
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: questionable - accidental
First recorded in Hawaiʻi:

Map

 Distribution of Setaria viridis in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Setaria viridis Inflorescence

Plant

Setaria viridis Plant

Spikelets

Setaria viridis Spikelets

Description

Plants annual. Culms 20–250 cm; nodes glabrous. Sheaths glabrous, sometimes scabridulous, margins ciliate distally; ligules 1–2 mm, ciliate; blades to 20 cm long, 4–25 mm wide, flat, scabrous or smooth, glabrous. Panicles 3–20 cm, densely spicate, nodding only from near the apices; rachises hispid and villous; bristles 1–3, 5–10 mm, antrorsely scabrous, usually green, rarely purple. Spikelets 1.8–2.2 mm. Lower glumes about as long as the spikelets, triangular-ovate, 3-veined; upper glumes nearly equaling the upper lemmas, elliptical, 5–6-veined; lower lemmas slightly exceeding the upper lemmas, 5-veined; lower paleas about as long as the lower lemmas, hyaline; upper lemmas very finely and transversely rugose, pale green, 5–6-veined; upper paleas similar to the upper lemmas. 2n = 18.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp http://floranorthamerica.org/Setaria_viridis )