Brachiaria rugulosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–30 cm long; 2–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–20 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; ciliate on margins. 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; acute; 2.8–3.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. 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; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate; without keels. Palea surface rugose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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