GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

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

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

Chloris suringarii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 5–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 0.5–1 cm long; striately veined; pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 0.2–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex obtuse to acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; paired; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 1.7–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.3–3 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.7–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 0.7 mm long. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight, or curved; 2–3 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns dorsal; 1.5–2 mm long; 3 per spikelet in number.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; dorsally compressed; trigonous; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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