Chloris flabellata

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 20–45 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–8 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–7; digitate; erect, or ascending; incurved; unilateral; 1–3 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; 2.5–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 3 in number; barren; oblong. Apical sterile lemmas muticous.

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. Gr S Afr 1997.

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