Brachiaria argentea

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long; 4–8 -noded. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1.5–4 cm long; 1.5–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; serrulate. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; subterete. Spikelet packing adaxial; distant; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; terete; 0.7–1.8 mm long; pubescent; tip oblique.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 2 mm long; with hairs extending 0 mm beyond apex; falling entire. Spikelet callus linear; 0.5–0.7 mm long; base pungent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair. Upper glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair; bearing hairs 0.5 mm long; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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