Brachiaria comata
(Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Stapf
Poaceae
The genera Brachiaria and Urochloa are closely related, and the two are united by some authors. See Veldkamp, Taxon 45 (1986) 319. However, this unification is not accepted by all authors - see Flora of China Vol 22 pp520-523 2006. We are following the treatment in the Flora of China and the Kew 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families', and treating the two genera as distinct[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Brachiaria and Urochloa are distinguished mainly by habit, Urochloa having rather more flattened, cuspidate spikelets enclosing a pronounced mucro from the upper lemma. The different spikelet orientation is also characteristic, though not obvious when the spikelets are paired. In Urochloa the lower glume faces outward, whereas in Brachiaria it lies against the rachis[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]..
Brachiaria epaleata Stapf
Brachiaria kotschyana (Hochst. ex Steud.) Stapf
Brachiaria secernenda (Hochst. ex Mez) Henrard
Panicum comatum Hochst. ex A.Rich.
Panicum indutum Steud.
Panicum kotschyanum Hochst. ex Steud.
Panicum secernendum Hochst. ex Mez
Panicum stuhlmannii K.Schum.
Panicum villosum erythraeum Chiov.
Urochloa comata (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Sosef
Common Name:
General Information
Brachiaria comata is a loosely tufted annual grass with weakly ascending culms; it can grow from 20 - 100cm tall[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food,
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Eritrea, south to Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo and Tanzania; Arabian Peinula - Yemen
Habitat
Cultivated land and waste places[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Deciduous bushland and in unsettled ground at elevations from 600 - 2,000 metres[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Pollinators | Wind |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Seed. Mainly treated as a famine food, harvested from the wild when better foods are not available[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
