Chloris submutica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect; 30–75 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–17; digitate; unilateral; 3–7 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; 2.8–3.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–3.2 mm long; 0.6–0.9 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; 2.5–3.4 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; elliptic in profile; 2.8–3.7 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; cuneate; 1.4–2.2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas truncate; muticous. Apical sterile lemma awns 0 per spikelet in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.9 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 1.7–2.3 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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