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Useful Tropical Plants

Brachiaria reptans

(L.) C.A.Gardner & C.E.Hubb.

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.
]..

+ Synonyms

Brachiaria balansae Henrard

Brachiaria prostrata (Lam.) Griseb.

Digitaria umbrosa (Retz.) Pers.

Echinochloa reptans (L.) Roberty

Echinochloa subcordata Roem. & Schult.

Panicum aurelianum Hale ex Alph.Wood

Panicum barbipedum Hayata

Panicum brachythyrsum Peter

Panicum caespitosum Sw.

Panicum calaccanzense Steud.

Panicum extensum Desv.

Panicum grossarium L.

Panicum insularum Steud.

Panicum luxurians Willd. ex Nees

Panicum nilagiricum Steud.

Panicum parvum Buse

Panicum patulum Mez

Panicum procumbens Nees

Panicum prostratum Lam.

Panicum reptans L.

Panicum sieberi Link

Panicum subcordatum (Roem. & Schult.) Roth

Panicum taitense Steud.

Panicum umbrosum Retz.

Panicum virescens Poir.

Setaria subcordata (Roem. & Schult.) Kunth

Setaria umbrosa (Retz.) P.Beauv.

Urochloa reptans (L.) Stapf

Common Name: Creeping Panic Grass

No Image.

General Information

Brachiaria reptans is an annual grass forming a clump of slender, creeping culms 10 - 65cm tall; the culms usually root at the lower nodes[
1140
Title
Brachiaria, Urochloa (Gramineae-Paniceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 41 pp 413-437 1996
Author
Veldkamp J.F.
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
A paper transferring various Brachiaria species to Urochloa, it also gives information on plant uses.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and probably also as a food on occasions.
This species appears to be reasonably widespread and capable of colonizing disturbed habitats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

The seed is said to contain cyanide[
1140
Title
Brachiaria, Urochloa (Gramineae-Paniceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 41 pp 413-437 1996
Author
Veldkamp J.F.
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
A paper transferring various Brachiaria species to Urochloa, it also gives information on plant uses.
].

Botanical References


Range

Pantropical, but probably originating in tropical Asia.

Habitat

Open waste places, beaches, old clearings, pastures, ditches, thickets, jati forest; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
1140
Title
Brachiaria, Urochloa (Gramineae-Paniceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 41 pp 413-437 1996
Author
Veldkamp J.F.
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
A paper transferring various Brachiaria species to Urochloa, it also gives information on plant uses.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The plant is a weed of agricultural fields, moderately common amongst sugarcane, and also invades lawns and heavily-grazed pastures[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. It is sometimes eaten in India, but is said to contain cyanides[
1140
Title
Brachiaria, Urochloa (Gramineae-Paniceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 41 pp 413-437 1996
Author
Veldkamp J.F.
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
A paper transferring various Brachiaria species to Urochloa, it also gives information on plant uses.
].

Medicinal

Ashes from the whole plant are used as a treatment against snake bite[
1140
Title
Brachiaria, Urochloa (Gramineae-Paniceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 41 pp 413-437 1996
Author
Veldkamp J.F.
Publisher
 
Year
1996
ISBN
 
Description
A paper transferring various Brachiaria species to Urochloa, it also gives information on plant uses.
].

The rhizomes are diuretic. A paste made from the rhizome is used in the treatment of kidney problems[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Brachiaria+reptans>

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