Annuals or perennials. Leaves: lamina
variable, from linear to ovate. Inflorescence a panicle, usually much
branched, but occasionally ± contracted about the primary
branches. Spikelets dorsally flattened, rarely slightly
gibbous; lower glume usually shorter than (rarely equal to)
the spikelet; upper glume as long as, the spikelet, often with a stipe-like internode between the glumes; lower floret male or barren; its lower lemma resembling the upper glume; upper lemma crustaceous; margin involute and clasping only the edges of the
palea.
A generally recognisable genus but
the following could be confused with it: Brachiaria deflexa, Eriochloa meyeriana, Tricholaena monachne. Worldwide: 500 species or more in tropical and warm temperate zones Caprivi: 11 taxa. The larvae of the following species of insect eat species of this genus: |
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