Brachiaria polyphylla

HABIT Annual. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–60 cm long; 3–7 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2–8 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; crenate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–7; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–15 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis wingless; angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; lax; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.3–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 2.9–3.7 mm long; 1.2–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.4–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels. Palea surface rugose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

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