Karroochloa

Plants annual or perennial; cespitose, stoloniferous or rhizomatous. Culms 4-40 cm. Sheaths open; ligules of hairs; blades to 2 mm wide, flat, rolled, or involute. Inflorescences terminal, contracted panicles, 0.5-6 cm. Spikelets 4-8 mm, laterally compressed, with 3-7 florets; disarticulation above the glumes. Glumes 3.5-7 mm, subequal, equaling or exceeding the florets, 3-5(7)-veined; calluses with lateral tufts of hairs; lemmas pubescent and/or with fringes, rows, or tufts of hair, 9-veined, awned from between the 2 apical lobes or teeth, awns twisted and geniculate; paleas 2-veined; lodicules 2, pubescent; anthers 3; ovaries glabrous. Caryopses about 1 mm; hila short, x = 6.

Distribution

Calif.

Discussion

Karroochloa is a southern African genus of four species.

Selected References

Conert, H.J. and A.M. Tiirpe. 1969. Karroochloa, ein neue Gattung der Gramineen (Poaceae, Arundinoideae, Danthonieae). Senckenberg. Biol. 50:289-318.

Lower Taxa

Karroochloa purpurea