Brachiaria pseudodichotoma

HABIT Annual. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 2–6 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–20 cm long; 2.5–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

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

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

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; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate; without keels. Palea surface rugose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser.

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