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[].
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[]..

Common Name:

General Information

Brachiaria fasciculata is an annual grass producing a cluster of decumbent culms 20 - 120cm tall thar form roots at their lower nodes[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed[].
The plant is frequently found growing as a weed[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - all countries except Chile; through the Caribbean and C. America north to Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.80 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Brachiaria fasciculata has a wide native range from the warm temperate zone of southern S. America, through the tropical regions of the Americas to the southern States of the USA.

Edible Uses

Seed[]. Used as a cereal.

Medicinal

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -