Chloris boivinii

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–3.5 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2–4(–6); digitate; unilateral; 2.5–6 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 1.5–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–1.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 0.5–1.3 mm long; 0.3–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex erose; truncate, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; lanceolate in profile; 1.5–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous (rarely), or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3–12 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; fusiform; laterally compressed; trigonous; 1.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.