﻿434 Nash : The Genera Chloris and 



CHLORIS Sw. Prod. 25. 1788. 



Tufted annual or perennial sometimes glaucous grasses with 

 round or more or less compressed smooth and glabrous culms and 

 sheaths, flat or folded obtuse or acute leaves, and terminal inflor- 

 escence composed of erect or spreading 1 -sided spikes arranged 

 usually in a terminal whorl, or sometimes with the addition of a 

 whorl or two, or of several scattered spikes, very rarely single. 

 Spikelets alternately arranged in 2 rows on one side of a triangular 

 rachis and more or less divergent from it. Scales 4-9, the awns 

 hispidulous ; outer 2 scales empty, membranous, keeled, 1 -nerved, 

 the nerve hispidulous, the first scale acute, shorter than the second 

 which is acute or acuminate and sometimes awn-pointed ; third scale 

 firmer, chartaceous, keeled, 3 -nerved, the nerves usually more 

 or less pilose, or rarely the midnerve glabrous or hispidulous 

 only, awned, the awn usually manifest, sometimes very long, the 

 scale enclosing a perfect flower and a 2-nerved palet as long as 

 the scale or a little shorter, the nerves ciiiolate ; fourth scale of 

 various and characteristic shapes, similar in texture to the third, 

 awned, from acute to truncate at the summit which is usually 

 inrolled, 3-7-nerved, generally empty, rarely enclosing a shorter 

 palet and flower ; the remaining scales successively smaller and 

 empty. Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. Grain 

 free, linear to elliptic, nearly round or 3 -sided. 



A genus of about 40 species, widely distributed in all warm or 

 tropical regions, excepting those of Europe. Some of the species 

 are cultivated for ornament, but none appear to be of economic 

 value or importance. 



T * 



In general appearance the species bear much resemblance to 

 each other, but the technical characters separating them, while 

 confined to small organs and requiring careful dissection, are 

 wonderfully constant. In several closely related species the fourth 

 scale has been found to be of great importance. Its shape and 

 particularly the formation of the apex have proved o( espe'"' 

 value. The venation of this scale has also furnished characters 'or 

 separating species of close affinities. While usually 3 -nerved, it # 

 sometimes 5- or 7-nerved above the middle by the branching °f 

 the lateral nerves at that place, the branches being sometimes feW 

 but readily discernible on close inspection. 



The genus has two fairly marked groups, one with the base ot 

 the slender racemes naked or furnished with but few scattere 



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