600 
[Urochloa. 
CLVII. GRAMINEiE (Stapf). 
hairs ; ligules reduced to a densely ciliate rim ; blades lanceolate to 
lanceolate-linear (rarely almost linear) from a rounded or subcordate 
subamplexicaul base, long-tapering to a slender point, 2J to over 
9 in. by 4-12 lin., flat, soft and often flaccid, subglaucous to yellowisb- 
green, more or less ciliate downwards along the scabrid cartilaginous 
margins, otherwise glabrous or more or less finely hirsute, midrib 
slender or in large blades stouter and prominent (beneath) towards 
the base, primary lateral nerves very slender, 4-5 or in large blades 
up to 7 on each side. Inflorescence borne on a slender peduncle which 
on maturity is more or less exserted from the uppermost sheath, of 
generally numerous obliquely erect sessile or subsessile rarely shortly 
peduncled spiciform secund racemes, crowded into an oblong or 
ovate-oblong panicle, 3-7 in. long, in starved specimens occasionally 
reduced to 5 or 6 or even fewer more scattered racemes ; common 
axis 1 J-5 in. long, striate, subterete below, sharply angular upwards, 
scabrid at the angles, otherwise glabrous to pubescent or almost 
villous, often with scattered spreading long white hairs. Racemes 
straight or subflexuous, rather dense or looser upwards, usually very 
irregularly pluriseriate, more or less compound particularly down- 
wards, with very short secondary racemes, the lower and inter- 
mediate 1-3 in. long, the upper rapidly shortening and passing into 
the racemules of the terminal raceme, in small specimens all simple 
or almost so and J-l in. long, if numerous crowded here and there 
in false whorls, but always more approximate upwards ; rhachis 
slightly wavy or straight, triquetrous, J to almost J lin. wide, 
pubescent or villosulous at the base, glabrous (or sometimes with a 
few long spreading hairs) on the flat pale or glaucous-green back, 
angles very sharp, scabrid, the lateral frequently with scattered long 
spreading hairs, internodes f to over 1 (or the uppermost over 2) lin. 
long ; pedicels fascicled, forming cluster-like racemules of 3 or 4 
(rarely more) frequently partly imperfect spikelets or 2-nate or 
solitary, reduced to short stoht obscurely disc-tipped stumps usually 
with some long white spreading hairs. Spikelets elliptic- oblong, 
shortly acute or apiculate, 1J to over 1J lin. long, pale green, nearly 
always quite glabrous. Glumes thinly membranous, dissimilar ; 
lower rotundate-ovate, clasping at the base, acute to subacute, 
3-5-nerved, with the tips of the lateral nerves anastomosing, J-£ the 
length of the spikelet ; upper corresponding in shape and outline to 
the spikelet, 7 -nerved, nerves slender, green, with few delicate cross- 
veins upwards. Lower floret barren, rarely g : valve very similar 
to the upper glume, but flat or slightly depressed and 5-nerved ; 
valvule oblong, acute, shorter than the valve, flaps evanescent 
upwards, keels narrowly winged towards the base. Upper floret 
elliptic, up to 1J lin. by § lin., very obtuse to subobtuse, yellowish 
to pale brown, delicately wrinkled or granular ; valve with a minute 
apiculus or a mucro up to J lin. long, like the valvule very firmly 
crustaceous, the latter with a smooth keel-edge and flaps ; anthers 
