Urochloa setigera

HABIT Annual. Culms 100–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate, or amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 8–15 cm long; 18–24 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy all along (at least to middle).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 6–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–13 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; ciliate on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 5–7 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.1 mm long overall. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Paniceae. Chen & Jin 1996.

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