Brachychloa fragilis

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 25–50 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–10 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; angular; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Palea bowed outwards. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; trigonous; sulcate on hilar side.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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