G.487. Urochloa P. Beauv.

Annuals or perennials. Leaves: lamina linear or lanceolate; ligule a line of hairs. Inflorescence of racemes borne upon a short common axis; spikelets single and abaxial or paired. Spikelets lanceolate to ovate, plano-convex, cuspidate to acuminate; lower glume mostly shorter than spikelet; upper glume as long as spikelet, usually membranous; lower floret male or sterile, lower lemma resembling upper glume; upper lemma obtuse, mucronate.

Derivation of name: from Greek: ouro meaning a tail; chloa meaning grass, possibly referring to the mucronate upper lemma

Comment: This now includes all species formerly placed in Brachiaria.

Worldwide: 103 species in the Old World tropics

DRC: 4 taxa.