Brachiaria semiverticillata

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–20 cm long; 7–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; crenate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–30; borne along a central axis; simply spaced, or the lowest whorled; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–20 cm long. Rhachis wingless; subterete; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing distant; irregular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 3.2–4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation stout (wider than long); 0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. 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; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute, or apiculate. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. Senaratna.

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