Brachiaria fusiformis

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 15–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface to pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–3.5 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins undulate; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–2 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; puberulous on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; ciliate.

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

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia.

NOTES Paniceae. Reeder 1997.

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