Urochloa reptans (L.) Stapf
No photograph on file for this species yet. Contributors can submit one.
Description
Urochloa reptans is a small annual to short-lived perennial creeping grass, usually 10–50 cm tall, with a spreading growth habit. Culms are slender, prostrate to ascending, and often root at lower nodes, allowing the plant to form mats. Stems are cylindrical, smooth, and branched near the base. Leaves are linear to lanceolate, flat, and soft, usually 3–15 cm long and 3–10 mm wide. Leaf blades are green, sometimes hairy, with slightly rough margins. Leaf sheaths are smooth or sparsely hairy, and the ligule is short and membranous. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme-like panicle, usually consisting of 2–8 slender racemes arranged along a central axis. Spikelets are paired along the raceme, laterally compressed, and contain fertile florets. The lower glume is usually absent or reduced, a characteristic feature of Urochloa. The fruit is a small caryopsis, enclosed within lemma and palea.
Diagnostic Characters
Distribution
Native range: Native to Tropical Asia, Tropical Africa.
In Pakistan: Distributed in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Tropical Africa. In Pakistan it occurs mainly in Warm plains, Agricultural margins, Disturbed habitats.
Phenology
Ethnobotany & Uses
Hello! I'm UniFlora AI. Ask me anything about Madhani (*Urochloa reptans*) — identification tips, flowering season, uses, campus locations, or taxonomy.
Powered by UniFlora knowledge base.
Where it grows on campus
Taxonomic Notes
Urochloa belongs to tribe Paniceae and is closely related to Brachiaria, Panicum, Digitaria. Many species previously placed in Brachiaria have been transferred to Urochloa based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. Urochloa reptans can be distinguished by Creeping habit, Small stature.