Brachiaria nigropedata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; pubescent. Culms 25–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–30 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–16; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–11 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; villous on surface. 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 elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acuminate; 3.5–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong (black); incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33–0.5(–0.66) length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; villous; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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