Brachiaria subrostrata

HABIT Annual. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 7–20 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–7 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1.5–3.5 cm long; pilose. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear, or oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 3–3.5 mm long; with hairs extending 0.5 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair. 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; ribbed; pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser.

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