Urochloa mosambicensis* (Hack.) Dandy.
J. Bot. 69: 54 (1931).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
mosambicense Hack., Bol. Soc. Brot. 6: 140 (1888).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: M.R. de Carvalho 19, 1886, Mozambique (W;
IT: COI, K; US-80775 (fragm. ex W)).
Recent synonyms:
U. rhodesiensis, U. pullulans.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia,
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (395).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (395).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons absent or present. Culms geniculately
ascending, 20–150 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pubescent. Mid-culm
nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades
linear or lanceolate, 2–30 cm long, 3–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous
or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes (2–)3–15, 2–10 cm long,
0.8–1.4 mm wide. Central inflorescence axis 2.5–12 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower
floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile
florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate,
dorsally compressed, 3–5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest
fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 4–4.5 mm long, membranous, without keels,
5 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented. Upper glume apex
muticous. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, male, with palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2–4 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate or awned. Median (principal) awn
0.5–1.2 mm long overall.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland,
New South Wales,
Christmas Is.
Western
Australia: Gardner.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf,
Central Australia North, Central Australia
South. Queensland:
Burnett, Cook, Leichhardt, Moreton, North Kennedy. New South Wales: Central-Western
Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes.
The taxonomic concepts of Clayton (1982) have been followed for this species.
The name U. rhodesiensis has been applied to those specimens with
solitary spikelets, however this feature is inconsistent and placing the name
in synonymy is justified. Urochloa pullulans has been applied to those
specimens with glabrous spikelets. The typical spikelets of U. mosambicensis
are densely ciliate. The taxonomic relationship between these forms is
uncertain.
Introduced. In
tropical and subtropical rain forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and
subtropical sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowers
Dec.-July.
