The inflorescences of Digitaria phaeotrix are composed of 4-15 digitate raceme-like branches, each of which bearing a variable number of short paracladia, which are, in turn, composed of 2 ‒ 4 spikelets. The observation of such inflorescences in early developmental stages shows that 1) one of the raceme-like branches corresponds to the main axis, while the remainder are long paracladia; 2) the main axis develops earlier than the lateral long paracladia, in such a way that the main axis exceeds the long paracladia in length in young inflorescences; 3) the short paracladia are composed of 2 ‒ 4 axes of consecutive branching order, each one bearing a spikelet; 4) the highest branching order occurs in the short paracladia situated along the middle portion of the, racemes'. The systematic value of the branching order of the short paracladia is discussed, and the heterochronic origin of its variation among the different series of Digitaria is hypothesized.