Compilation
Urochloa mosambicensis

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Name

Identification
Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy [family POACEAE ]
Related name
  • Urochloa mosambicensis

Flora

Entry for UROCHLOA mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy [family POACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 451, (1982) Author: W. D. CLAYTON and S.A. RENVOIZE
Names
UROCHLOA mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy [family POACEAE], in J.B. 69: 54 (1931); Ann. list Nyasaland grasses: 65 (1958). Type: Mozambique, de Carvalho (K, iso.!)
Panicum mosambicense Hack. [family POACEAE], in Bol. Soc. Brot. 6: 140 (1888)
Urochloa pullulans Stapf [family POACEAE], in F.T.A. 9: 590 (1920); Ann. list Nyasaland grasses: 65 (1958); G.T.: 70 (1965), nom. superfl., based on Panicum mosambicense
Urochloa pullulans (Hack.) Stapf var. mosambicensis [family POACEAE], in F.T.A. 9: 592 (1920), nom. illegit.
Urochloa rhodesiensis Stent [family POACEAE], in Proc. Trans. Rhod. Sci. Ass. 32: 26 (1933). Types: Zimbabwe, Nyamandhlovu, Rattray 500 (K, isosyn.!) & Salisbury, Stent in S.R.G.H. 3669 (K, isosyn.!), 4516 (SRGH, syn.) & 5547 (K, isosyn.!)
Information
Tufted or stoloniferous perennial, the basal sheaths silky pubescent; culms 20–150 cm. high, ascending. Leaf-blades broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2–30 cm. long, 3–20 mm. wide. Inflorescence of (2–)3–15 racemes on a common axis 3–12 cm. long; racemes 2–8 cm. long, bearing single or sometimes paired spikelets on a narrowly winged rhachis. Spikelets ovate, 3–5 mm. long, acuminate; lower glume oblong (1/2–)2/3–3/4 the length of the spikelet, membranous, 3-nerved, often with a tuft of hairs from the middle of the back, obtuse; upper glume glabrous or pubescent; lower lemma with or without a setose fringe; upper lemma rugulose, with a mucro 0.5–1.2 mm. long.
Range
DISTR. U1; K4, 7; T2, 3, 5–8 southwards to South Africa; also in Burma; introduced to several other tropical countries as a forage crop
Altitude range
0–1400 m.
Distribution
KENYA Meru District Meru National Park, main road to Ura Gate, 15 May 1972, Ament & Magogo 222!KENYA Kilifi District Malindi, 8 Oct. 1948, Allan 79!TANZANIA Lushoto District Kwamndolwa, May 1958, Semsei 2777!TANZANIA Morogoro, 29 Apr. 1968, Renvoize & Abdallah 1798!TANZANIA Songea District 9.5 km. SW. of Songea near R. Mtanda, 18 Feb. 1956, Milne-Redhead & Taylor 8827!UGANDA W. Nile District Inde, 16 Apr. 1957, Brooks 104!
Notes
U. mosambicensis and U. oligotricha are very closely allied, but can usually be distinguished by differences in the nervation, shape and texture of the lower glume. Needless to say intermediates occur, and the boundary between the species (and their annual counterparts) sometimes becomes blurred.

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