Brachiaria tsiafajavonensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 25–35 cm long; with prop roots. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–9 cm long; 8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–8; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–8 cm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.8–3 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–0.9 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate, or ciliate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 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; oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface unwrinkled. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 22004.

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