Chloris cucullata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–20; digitate; in several whorls; arcuate, or flexuous; unilateral; 2–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.2–0.5 cm long. Rhachis subterete; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.5–0.7 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume obovate; 0.5–0.7 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; cartilaginous; yellow, or light brown; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.3–1.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; orbicular; 1–1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas truncate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 0–1.5 mm long; 0–1 per spikelet in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; dorsally compressed; trigonous; 0.9–1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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