Brachiaria reticulata

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 15–45 cm long. Lateral branches ample, or fastigiate. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2.5–7.5 cm long; 7–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; crenate; scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–3; single, or borne along a central axis; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 2–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; angular; 0.5–1 mm wide; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; smooth; glabrous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 11 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; with cross-veins; obtuse, or acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface smooth, or pitted. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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