Chloris jubaensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–95 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–6; digitate; unilateral; 7–8 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; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.6–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; 3.8 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4–6 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1–2 in number; barren; cuneate; 3–6 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 4.5–6 mm long; 1–2 per spikelet in number.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; trigonous. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Cope 1997.

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