Trichloris crinita

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 70–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 15–25 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–25; digitate; unilateral; 5–10 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–2.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–15 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 8–10 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 5–10 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; concavo-convex; 2–2.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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