Chloris diluta

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–85 cm long; wiry; 4–8 -noded. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; digitate; spreading; unilateral; 5–8 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 8–12 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; separate; elliptic; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 2–8 mm long; 1 per spikelet in number.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; trigonous. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Renvoize 1997.

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