Brachiaria ciliatissima

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–7 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 3.5–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume margins villous. 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; 5 -veined; pubescent; villous on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

FRUIT Embryo 0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gould.

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