Poaceae
Urochloa

Urochloa clavipila (Chiov.) Sosef

First published in Pl. Ecol. Evol. 149: 359 (2016)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. DR Congo to S. Tropical Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit
Tufted perennial.
Morphology Culms
Culms 30–70 cm. high.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2–6 racemes, these 1–4 cm. long, bearing spikelets singly in 1–2 rows on a triquetrous rhachis which is clavellate hairy on the back.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 3–4.5 mm. long, pubescent with appressed clavellate hairs, the nerves often prominent, acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Inferior glume c. 1/2 length of spikelet.
Inferior
Inferior glume c. 1/2 length of spikelet.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Superior lemma softly coriaceous, striate, acute.
Superior
Superior lemma softly coriaceous, striate, acute.
[FZ]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30-70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4-8 cm long; 1-3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 2-6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1-4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2-4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; pilose on surface (with clavate hairs). Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 1-2 -rowed. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface pubescent; with clavate hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent; with clavate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ribbed; pilose; with clavate hairs; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5-4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate; pubescent. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.
Distribution
Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.
Reference
Paniceae. FZ.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0