Brachiaria epacridifolia

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 4–10 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 0.5–1.5 cm long; 1–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–6; borne along a central axis; deflexed; unilateral; 0.5–1 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 1–5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; lax; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.5–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; chartaceous; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser.

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