Chloris nutans (Stapf) P.M.Peterson

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect, or decumbent; 23-75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 5-22 cm long; 2.5-5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes (1-)2-4(-6); digitate; unilateral; 4-11.5 cm long. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 4-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5.3-11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus truncate.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 4-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5.3-11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.9-4.5 mm long; 0.6-0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 3.3-5.8 mm long; 0.6-0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; 4.4-6.7(-9.2) mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7-11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; branched. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy between veins; with simple hairs. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 0.75-10.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Palea surface pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; biconvex; 2-2.2 mm long; dark brown; smooth.

Distribution

Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

Reference

Cynodonteae. FTEA.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Shortly stoloniferous perennial tussock grass; culms 23–75 cm. high, slender, erect or geniculately ascending.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades up to 22 cm. long and 2.5–5 mm. wide, glabrous or rarely softly pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence digitate or subdigitate, composed of (1–)2–4(–6) slender curving subsecund spike-like racemes 4–11.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4–10-flowered, wedge-shaped, 5.3–11 mm. long, subsessile, biseriate, overlapping on the rhachis by up to half their length, straw-coloured often tinged with purple; glumes 1-nerved, lightly keeled, the lower narrowly lanceolate, 1.9–4.5 mm. long, acuminate, the upper oblong, 3.3–5.8 mm. long, obtuse; lemmas broadly elliptic to obovate, 4.4–6.7(–9.2) mm. long, tough and chartaceous, 7–11-nerved, the nerves thick and prominent and the outer ones confluent towards the base, appressed villous, the hairs with thickened sharp-pointed tips and mainly confined to 6 intercostal rows extending 1/3–3/4 the length of the lemma, occasionally the hairs more diffuse and ± obscuring the nerves, remainder of the lemma strigillose; awn 0.75–10.5 mm. long, shorter in the upper florets, densely scabrid, outwardly curved or flexuous from a stout base; palea ciliate on the keels, puberulous on the back.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Grain elliptic, 2–2.2 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 84.

Habitat

Open grassland and Acacia bushland, usually on heavy soils, especially black cotton soil; 670–1900 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T2 T3 U1 eastern and south-eastern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa (Transvaal, Natal)

Gramineae, T. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:2. 1999

Morphology General Habit

Shortly stoloniferous perennial tussock grass up to 100 cm tall, erect or geniculately ascending; lower leaf sheaths compressed and keeled; leaf laminas (4)7–20(30) cm × 2–6 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes (1)2–4, digitate or subdigitate, 3–10 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4–10-flowered, 5–10 mm long, cuneate, pale green or straw-coloured, usually tinged with purple; glumes 1-nerved, lightly keeled, the inferior 2.9–3.3 mm long, narrowly lanceolate and acuminate, the superior 3.5–3.8 mm long, oblong and obtuse; lemmas 4.3–7 mm long (excluding the awn), broadly elliptic to obovate; awn 2.5–8(11) mm long, straight or outwardly curved or flexuous from a stout base; palea ciliate on the keels, puberulous on the back; anthers 1–2.5 mm long.