Smallgrass

Annuals or perennials. Inflorescence a single raceme, bearing inclined or pectinate spikelets on a semi-terete (crescent-shaped in section) rhachis. Spikelets 1-flowered, (rarely with a second developed male floret), alternate in two rows, disarticulating above the glumes. Glumes subequal, 1-nerved, enclosing the florets; lower keeled, upper dorsally rounded. Lemma membranous, keeled, acute to 2-lobed at the apex, awnless but sometimes minutely mucronate.

Microchloa, or smallgrass, is a genus of tropical and subtropical plants in the grass family, native to Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere.

Species Microchloa altera (Rendle) Stapf - central + southern Africa Microchloa annua (Kupicha & Cope) Cope - Zambia Microchloa caffra Nees - central + southern Africa Microchloa ensifolia Rendle - Angola Microchloa indica (L.f.) P.Beauv. - tropical Africa, southern China, Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Java, Philippines, Northern Territory of Australia Microchloa kunthii Desv. - Africa, southern Asia (Yemen to Vietnam), southwestern USA (Arizona, Texas), Mexico, Central America, South America (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia) formerly included

see Brachyachne

Microchloa ciliaris - Brachyachne ciliaris Microchloa convergens - Brachyachne convergens Microchloa fibrosa - Brachyachne fulva Microchloa fulva - Brachyachne fulva Microchloa obtusiflora - Brachyachne obtusiflora Microchloa patentiflora - Brachyachne patentiflora Microchloa tenella - Brachyachne tenella