Brachiaria antsirabensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms decumbent; slender; 40–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–7 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 2–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–7 cm long; pubescent, or pilose. Rhachis wingless; angular; pubescent on surface, or pilose on surface. Spikelet packing adaxial; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 2.7–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein depressed. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ciliolate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; chartaceous, or indurate; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; chartaceous, or indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser.

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