Brachiaria urocoides

HABIT Annual. Butt sheaths glabrous, or pubescent. Culms decumbent; 40–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–9 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis hirsute. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing abaxial; lax; irregular; 1–2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; compressed moderately; symmetrical; acute; 4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Paniceae. Chen & Jin 1996.

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