Fine armgrass
Brachiaria reptans

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass. The base is creeping and there are several slender stems. The nodes have beards. The leaf sheaths are shorter than the internodes. They are hairy and loose. The leaf blades are short and 5-8 mm wide. They are rounded at the base and have crinkly edges. The flower stalk has several slender racemes. The spikelets are arranged in an irregular fashion. They are less than 3 mm long.

There are about 100 Brachiaria species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They occur on slightly better soils in medium rainfall areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, India, Northeastern India, Mozambique, Pakistan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The grains are eaten when food is scarce.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Shani pillu

Synonyms

Brachiaria prostrata (Lam.) Griseb.; Brachiaria prostratum Lam.; Panicum reptans Linn.; Uruchloa reptans Stapf.;