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.

eruciformis- from the Latin eruca (caterpillar) and forma (shape), alluding to the resemblence of the racemes to caterpillars.

Published in
Fl. Ross 4: 469 (1853).

Habit
Annual, tufted. Culms decumbent, slender, 10–60 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5–1 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, 2–15 cm long, 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous or pubescent.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of spikes. Spikes 3–14, unilateral, 0.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless, angular. Spikelet packing adaxial, regular, 2-rowed.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, elliptic, slightly dorsally compressed, subacute, 1.7–2.7 mm long, falling entire, readily shedding fertile florets.

Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, 0.2–0.5 mm long, 10–20% of length of spikelet, membranous, 0-nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or pubescent. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong, 1.7–2 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or pubescent or villous. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume, oblong, 1.7–2 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved, glabrous or pubescent or villous, acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, 1.3–2.5 mm long, indurate, glossy. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute, indurate, without keels. Anthers 0.5–1 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific, South America.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland, New South Wales.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes
Introduced. Native to Africa and the Mediterranean region. It has been widely distributed as a lawn grass and now frequently occurs as a weed. Flowers throughout the year.

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