Tropical Signalgrass

Taxonomic note:  Although recognized in Flora of North America, this species is listed as a synonym of U. distachya (L.) Nguyen in Wunderlin & Hansen.

Synonym:  Brachiaria subquadripara (Trin.) Hitchc.

Natural range:  Asia

Habitat: Disturbed sites

Florida status: Exotic weed, very common

Recognition:  Stoloniferous.  Spikes one-sided, straight, horizontal, widely spaced.  Spikelets not paired but in two rows, 3.3-3.8 mm long.  Lower  glume ½ the length of the spikelet, wrapped around, scarcely separated from the second glume by a short internode (as opposed to U. platyphylla which has distinct separation between the two glumes).  Anthers 1.1-1.35 mm.