Chloris texensis

Last updated

Chloris texensis
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus: Chloris
Species:
C. texensis
Binomial name
Chloris texensis
Nash

Chloris texensis is a species of grass known by the common name Texas windmill grass. It is endemic to Texas in the United States, where it occurs on the coastal prairies. [1]

This perennial grass forms clumps of stems up to 30 to 45 centimeters tall. The leaf blades are up to 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a panicle with several long, spreading branches arranged in a whorl. Each branch is up to 20 centimeters long and has 3 to 4 spikelets per centimeter along the distal part. [2] Flowering occurs in October and November. [3]

This plant grows on sparsely vegetated stretches of coastal prairie, often at mima mounds. Other plants located around these mounds include Hymenoxys texana , Thurovia triflora , and Rayjacksonia aurea . [3] It may also be associated with the rare Machaeranthera aurea . [1]

This plant is threatened with the loss of its habitat due to development, especially in the Houston area. [1] [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chloris texensis. The Nature Conservancy.
  2. Chloris texensis. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Grass Manual Treatment.
  3. 1 2 3 Chloris texensis. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.