Chloris mensensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes digitate, or borne along a central axis; spreading, or ascending; unilateral; 8–9 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; 3.5–5.2 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; 1.4–3 mm long; 0.4–0.6 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 lanceolate; 3.2–5 mm long; 0.9 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; lanceolate in profile; 3.5–5.2 mm long; cartilaginous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 7–12 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; elliptic; 0.5–2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous (scabrous); awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 1.5–3.5 mm long; 1 per spikelet in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 2–2.2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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