Brachiaria bovonei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear; flat, or convolute; 3–30 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)3–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–10 cm long. Rhachis wingless; subterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs white, or yellow; 1–2 mm long. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; subacute; 3.2–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.66–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–11 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; with cross-veins; dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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