Changes

Young green leaves of ''Urochloa mosambicensis'' typically contain up to 2.5% N, 0.2% P and are 65–70% digestible. In the late wet season these values are 1.2%, 0.15% and 55–60%, respectively. Dry leaves and stems are much lower in quality and typically contain 0.5% N and 0.2% P. Information on the nutritional characteristics of the grain is not available.

Tufted or stoloniferous perennial grass up to 1.5 m tall; stem (culm) ascending, sometimes rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves alternate, simple and entire; leaf sheath silky pubescent; ligule a ciliate membrane; blade linear, 2–30 cm × 3–20 mm, pale to bright green, more or less hairy. Inflorescence composed of 2–20 racemes borne on a central axis 3–15 cm long; racemes (1–)2–9(–14) cm long, bearing solitary spikelets on a narrowly winged rachis. Spikelet ovate, 2.5–5.5 mm × 1.5–3 mm, glabrous or hairy, acuminate, 2-flowered with lower floret male and upper bisexual; lower glume elliptical-oblong, shorter than spikelet, 3-veined, shiny, upper glume as long as the spikelet, 5-veined with cross-veins, granulose to rugulose, with a mucro; lemma acuminate, leathery, 5-veined, with a mucro, palea shorter than lemma; stamens 3; ovary superior, with 2 plumose stigmas. Fruit a strongly flattened caryopsis (grain), pale buff or cream.