Brachiaria ambigens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–50 cm long. Lateral branches ample, or fastigiate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–14 cm long; 2–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–15; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; unilateral; 1–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acuminate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus brief.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.2–0.4 mm long overall. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.