Brachiaria lachnantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent, or woolly. Culms 20–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–40 cm long; 3–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–15; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–15 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; pubescent on surface, or villous on surface. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary (or paired at base). Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; villous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square (green).

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.25–0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent, or pilose, or villous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent, or pilose, or villous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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