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Descriptions

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

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

Chloris mossambicensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Stolons absent, or present. Butt sheaths papery. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; (20–)40–85 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; (6–)10–35 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (2–)4–5(–7); digitate; spreading, or ascending; unilateral; 3–8 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; 2.75–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.75–2 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.75–3.5(–4) mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; oblong in profile; 2–3(–4) mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; (4–)7–11 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; separate; cuneate; 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 2.5–7.5 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: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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