Brachiaria dura

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–2; single, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–3 cm long. Rhachis wingless; semiterete; 1 mm wide; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 3.5–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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