Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv.

Rather stout, tufted, wide-leaved annuals. Leaf-sheath light green, submembranous, rounded below to slightly keeled above, glabrous; margins ciliate; some lower sheaths with scattered fine hairs. Ligule ciliate, hairs 0.5–1.5 mm. Collar margins villous, hairs forming a contra-ligule. Leaf-blade (4)–6–15–(20) cm × 4–9 mm, flat, linear-lanceolate, long-tapering, abaxially smooth, adaxially minutely scabrid; margins minutely scabrid, tip filiform. Culm 15–35–(75) cm, internodes ridged, minutely scabrid near panicle. Panicle 5–15 cm × 8–20–(40) mm, dense, cylindric, usually lobed towards base, light green at first; rachis densely short-pubescent, with short-pubescent compound branches, the ultimate minute branchlets bearing 1–4 antrorsely scabrid bristles (4–15 mm) and 2–4 spikelets. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm, persistent except for upper floret. Lower glume 1.5–2–(2.5) mm, 1–3-nerved, ovate, acute or subacute, upper (2)–2.5–3 mm, 5–7-nerved, broad-elliptic, obtuse. Lower floret: lemma 5-nerved, elliptic, obtuse; palea a hyaline rim, or 0. Upper floret shining, becoming yellow to reddish brown or black at maturity and disarticulating from spikelet: lemma = spikelet, crustaceous, ± glabrous, convex, broadly elliptic or oblong; palea of same texture as lemma but somewhat shorter; anthers 0.8–1 mm; caryopsis c. 1.5–2 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]