102 



Fig. 76. Chloris elegans H.B.K. (C.alba Presl.) .— a, The empty or outer empty 

 glumes of a spikelet; b, the florets raised above the empty glumes: c, a palea. 



76. CHLORIS Swartz, Prodr. PI. Ind. Occ. 25. 1788. Spikelets 1-flowered, 

 awned, sessile in 2 rows along one side of a continuous rachis, forming unilat- 

 eral spikes; rachilla articulated above the empty glumes and produced behind 

 the palea, bearing 1 or more rudimentary awned empty glumes. Outer empty 

 glumes 2, unequal, lanceolate, acute, somewhat keeled; flowering glume narrow 

 or broad, 1- to 3-nerved, acute, or broadly obtuse, truncate, emarginate or 2-lobed 

 at the apex, often ciliate on the back or margins, the middle nerve nearly 

 always prolonged into a slender awn. Grain free within the fruiting glume. 

 Usually perennial grasses, with flat leaves and showy-or attractive inflorescence 

 of two to many digitate spikes. 



Species about 40, widely distributed throughout the warmer countries of the 

 world. Several are cultivated for ornament. 



