|
Brachiaria reptans
|
|
|
|
Family:
POACEAE/GRAMINEAE
|
|
Citation: Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & C.E.Hubb. in Hook., Ic. Pl. Subtab. 3363. 1938; Sreek. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Kerala Grasses 224. 1991; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 506. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 377. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 833. 1997; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 825. 2009.
Panicum reptans L., Syst. Nat. (ed. 10) 870. 1759.
Panicum prostratum Lam., Encycl. Tabl. 1: 171. 1791; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 33. 1896.
Panicum javanicum sensu Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 35. 1896, non Poir. 1816.
Urochloa reptans (L.) Stapf in Oliver, Fl. Trop. Africa 9: 610. 1920; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1775(1230). 1934.
|
|
Malayalam Name(s):
|
|
Tamil name(s):
|
|
English name(s):
|
|
Description:
Annuals. Culms 12-35 cm long, creeping, rooting at the nodes; nodes sparsely bearded. Leaves 1.5-6.5 x 0.3-0.8 cm, lanceolate, base rounded, apex acuminate; sheaths to 2.5 cm long, ciliate on one margin; ligule a row of hairs. Panicles 2.5-5.5 cm long, terminal; racemes 3-6 in number, alternate, 1-3.5 cm long. Spikelets 1.5-2 mm long, elliptic, acute; pedciels c. 1 mm long. Lower glume 0.5-1 mm long, obovate,1-3-nerved. Upper glume 1.5-2 mm long, ovate, acute, 5-nerved. Lower floret empty. Upper floret bisexual. First lemma 1.5-2 x 1 mm, broadly ovate, acute, 7-nerved. Palea 1.5-2 x 1 mm, ovate, 2-keeled, hyaline. Second lemma c. 1 x 1 mm, ovate, mucronate, crustaceous, rugulose. Palea c. 1 x 1 mm,ovate, crustaceous, 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Stigmas purple, plumose.
|
|
Habit:
Herb
|
|
Flowering & Fruiting:
July-November
|
|
District(s):
Alappuzha, Idukki, Malappuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Palakkad
|
|
Medicinal:
|
|
Habitat:
Degraded moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
|
|
Distribution:
Tropical Asia; now introduced throughout the tropics
|
|
Aquatic:
No
|
|
Epiphyte(s):
No
|
|
Saprophyte:
No
|
|
Stem parasite:
No
|
|
Root parasite:
No
|
|
Flower colour(s):
|
|
Weed:
No
|
|
Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
|
|
Exotic:
No
|
|
Garden:
No
|
|
Edible:
No
|
|
Vegetable:
No
|
|
Endemic to:
|
|
IUCN status:
|
|
Altitude:
|
|
Localities:
Peechi, Kattalappara, way to Munnar, Lock-hert gap, Thamarakulam, Manimooli
|