Gramineae

Brachiaria serrata (Thunb.) Stapf var. serrata
Brachiaria serrata (Thunb.) Stapf var. gossypina (A. Rich.) Stapf

Red top grass
Velvet signal grass

Panicoideae; Panicodae, Paniceae. There are about 100 species occurring in warm regions of the world of which 19 are indigenous and 1 introduced to southern Africa.

From tropical to southern Africa. In South Africa, it is found in mountainous areas of savanna and grassland. It usually occurs in rocky areas on mountain slopes.

A perennial, loosely to densely tufted, sometimes rhizomatous grass that grows to a height of 300-750 mm tall. The leaf blades are 50-250 mm long and 2-10 mm wide and have serrate margins. The ligule is a fringed to unfringed membrane or a fringe of hairs. The vegetative parts are very variable and the leaves may be in dense tufts at the base or cauline, leaving the base bare. The culms may be single or profusely branched. Inflorescence of spike-like main branches that are espatheate and the spikelet bearing axes are persistent. Spikelets with dense long, silky, white or purple hairs concentrated at the apex. Pedicels equal. Lower lemma and palea extending into a short stout mucro up to 1 mm long.

An average grazing grass that is reasonably palatable, but has low leaf production. Is an indicator of good rangeland condition.

Chromosome base number, x = 7 and 9.

C₄ photosynthetic pathway.

None reported and considered to be non-toxic.

Brachiaria serrata is found in tropical regions, but in more temperate local habitats. It is found in rocky areas in mountainous regions in undisturbed vegetation. Occurs in a wide variety of vegetation types in South Africa, but never as a dominant species.

It grows on shallow sandy or loam soils in rocky places.

B. serrata is not propagated.

A summer-growing species that flowers from October to May.

None known

Slow growing, but may form dense clumps where it becomes established.

Acocks, J.P.H. 1988. Veld types of South Africa (3rd edn.). Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. No 28. Government printer, Pretoria.

Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1989. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.