Brachiaria ovalis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 10–50(–150) cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 3–25 cm long; 2–12 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–15; borne along a central axis; spreading, or appressed; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–15 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; lax; irregular.

Spikelets appressed; solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 2–4 mm long; 0.5–0.9 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; subacute, or acute; 2.5–4.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong; 0.3–0.7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume obovate; clasping; 0.25–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth; glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 5 -veined; smooth; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose; unwrinkled, or rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute, or apiculate. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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