GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Chloris montana

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 20–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 2–5; digitate; erect; unilateral; 1.5–6.5 cm long. Rhachis subterete; scabrous on surface; glabrous on surface, or pilose on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2.1–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 0.6–0.75 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; 2.2–2.7 mm long; 0.75–1 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; 2.1–3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous to pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above. Lemma hairs 1 mm long. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4.2–9.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate; 0.9–1.7 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3.9–9.5 mm long; 3 per spikelet in number.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; trigonous; 1.7–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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