Chloris sagraeana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 15–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 1.3–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; digitate; spreading, or deflexed; unilateral; 3.5–15 cm long. Rhachis subterete; scabrous 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; 2.6–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 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; 2.4–3.5 mm long; 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; 2.6–3.5 mm long; 0.5–0.7 mm wide; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy all along. Lemma hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 7–13 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong; 0.7–1.6 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3.3–9 mm long; 1 per spikelet in number.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; trigonous; 1.6–1.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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