Brachiaria gilesii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 15–40 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section and channelled. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–6 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 3–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; cuspidate; 4–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.1–0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins); ciliate on margins; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.5 mm long overall. Palea involute; indurate; without keels. Palea surface rugose.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Vickery.

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