Chloris woodii

HABIT Perennial. Stolons absent, or present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–7; digitate; unilateral; 9–10 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; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

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 surface pilose. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 12 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 3–5 in number; barren; in a clump; ovate; 1.75 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas pilose; adorned all over; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; 8–11 mm long; 3–5 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.