Brachiaria decumbens
Brachiaria decumbens
Safety & Hazards
A widespread, but sporadic, toxicity syndrome associated with Brachiaria decumbens is hepatogenous photosensitization. The exact causes are not understood, but some researchers believe that an infestation of the grass by the saprophytic fungus Pithomyces chatarum, which produces spores thought to contain the toxin sporidesmin[1].
Cultivation Details
Brachiaria decumbens is a plant of the tropical zone, where it is found between latitudes 27° north and south, at elevations up to 1,800 metres. It succeeds in areas will all year rainfall and also where a dry season is up to 5 months long. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 35°c, but can tolerate 19- 38°c[2]. It is not very tolerant of frost, often being killed at 0°c[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 900 - 2,400mm[2]. Grows best in a sunny position, but tolerant of light shade[2]. Succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils, tolerating, poor shallow soils[2]. It has excellent tolerance to aluminium in the soil[3]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[2]. Established plants have a good tolerance of drought[2]. The plant can become a weed but is easily controlled by ploughing it out[2].
Propagation
Seed - should be sown no deeper than 10mm and rolling is recommended after sowing. Best results are obtained when seed is sown during the wet season[1]. The seed needs after-ripening for 10 - 12 months to break dormancy. Treating the seed for 10 - 15 minutes with commercial sulphuric acid will improve germination of recently harvested seed from nought to 33%). Seedling vigour is excellent[1] Division of culms and root pieces[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Brachiaria+decumbens>
Pollinators
Wind
References
- [1]Grassland Species - Profiles — http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm ↩︎Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
- [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [3]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
- [4]Flora of Australia — http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/ ↩︎The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.