Derivation
Brachiaria (Trin.) Griseb., in C.F. von Ledebour, Fl. Ross. 4: 469 (1853). From the Latin brachium (arm), alluding to the manner of bearing the racemes.

ramosa- from the Latin ramus (branch) and -osa (abundance). Inflorescence or culms much branched.

Published in
Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 542 (1919).

Common synonyms
Urochloa ramosa (L.) R.D.Webster

Habit
Annual, tufted. Stolons absent. Culms 10–70 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 2–25 cm long, 4–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 3–15, unilateral, 1–8 cm long, 0.4–0.6 mm wide, simple or with branchlets at base of longer racemes. Central inflorescence axis 3–13 cm long. Rhachis wingless, angular, scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing adaxial, irregular, 2-rowed.

Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, in pairs. Pedicels linear, 1–2 mm long, 50–75% of length of fertile spikelet, tip discoid. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, elliptic, slightly dorsally compressed, plano-convex, acute or cuspidate, 2.4–3.5 mm long, falling entire. Spikelet callus brief or square, 0–0.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.

Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, clasping, 1–1.4 mm long, 33–50% of length of spikelet, membranous, 3–7-nerved. Lower glume apex obtuse or acute. Upper glume ovate, 2.5–3.4 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5–9-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute, mucronate.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume, ovate, 2.4–3.3 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous or coriaceous (rarely), 5-nerved, glabrous or pubescent, acute. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate, 2–3.3 mm long, indurate, dark brown. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute, mucronate. Palea involute, indurate, without keels.

Continental Distribution:
Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, North America.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Western Australia: Gardner. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes
Introduced. A native of Africa and Asia. In tropical and subtropical rain forests and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. In Australia it occasionally occurs as a weed in cultivated areas. Flowers Feb.–July.

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