Chloris ruahensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–9 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–5; digitate; unilateral; 4–5 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 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.7–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1.2 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; ovate in profile; 2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 9.5–10 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 2 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 10 mm long; 2 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.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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