Grasses of the genus Chloris are sometimes called "fingergrasses" because the spikes are arranged like fingers (digits) at the top of the culm. The spikelets have several common characteristics that usually can be observed without magnification, though magnification certainly helps: the spikelets have awns, typically 1 to 3 per spikelet, and these are usually conspicuous but may require magnification in some species; the spikelets are secund or unilaterial (arranged in pairs on one side of the rachis); the spikelets are attached directly to the rachis or by very short pedicels and fall from the rachis above two glumes of slightly unequal size, so these small, paired bractlets are left behind as the infloresence drops the seeds, providing a ready glimpse of the glumes. The ligule is a short membrane or a dense row of short cilia.

Seven species of Chloris are known to be present in Hawai‘i (Clayton & Snow, 2010; Faccenda, 2023) and many are commonly encountered as weeds in lawns and especially at disturbed sites. Raulerson (2016) lists 3 species on Guam (4 from the Marianas). All Chloris species in Hawai‘i and Guam are naturalized species (that is, none is native) and several are very common in lowland dry locations (Chloris barbata especially; pictured in photo above).

Racemes spreading or ascending, typically 3 inches (6 cm) or more long, sometimes shorter. Floret with no or only short hairs on lemmas and with or without awns

Inflorescence of 5-15(-22) spikes. Each spikelet with three long awns (sometimes a 4th, shorter awn). Two sterile florets orbicular, giving the spikelets a beaded appearance on close inspection; each sterile floret awned. Stems and leaves thin, stems with swollen nodes and often a red ring at each node. { Annual, medium size grass forming clumps in dry, disturbed areas, although very widespread in open areas; very common in Hawai‘i and Guam. Swollen fingergrass [HAW - NAT] [FACU]; fingergrass [GUM - NAT]

   Chloris barbata (L.) Sw.

Inflorescence of 4-12 feathery spikes. Each spikelet with two long awns (see Fig. 13C below). Two sterile florets not orbicular and only one awned. Lowest lemma with dense tuft of hairs, 2–3 mm long at apex. Panicle branches usually held closely together and erect. { Annual, medium size grass forming clumps in dry, disturbed areas. Feather fingergrass. [HAW - NAT] [FACU]; [?GUM - NAT]

Chloris virgata Sw.

Spikelet with at least one long awn greater than twice the length of spikelet (0.5 to 1.6 cm long). Inforescence of 5 to 15 ascending or lax racemes

Inflorescence of (5-)7-20 ascending or lax spikes. Spikelet with 3 or 4 florets (2-3 sterile) and several short awns, one a very short extension of the strong mid-vein of the 2nd glume. First lemma with a tuft of short hairs. Ligule a short (0.5 mm) membrane accompanied by long hairs across the throat. { Medium-size, somewhat robust, usually erect, perennial grass of open, disturbed areas, verges, and pastures. (See also couplet [44b]) Rhodes grass [HAW - NAT] [FACU] [GUM - NAT]

Chloris gayana Kunth

Resembles the much coarser Eleusine indica, the latter with 6 or fewer racemes and spikelets 5 mm or more in length.

Panicle branches (racemes) 5–15 between 5 and 8 cm long, ascending or somewhat lax, in 2–4 whorls. Spikelet narrow, acute, light green or yellow, with two obvious awns, at least one awn approaching 3/8 in (1 cm) in length. Glumes similar, but one clearly shorter than florets. Ligule membranous, short ciliate { Medium-size, loosly-tufted annual in mostly mesic, disturbed sites, verges, and fields. Radiate fingergrass [HAW - NAT] [FACU]; plush-grass [GUM - NAT]

Chloris radiata (L.) Sw.

Chloris truncata R. Br.

Spikelet narrowing towards tip (accuminate), light green to tan in color. Spikes 1.5 to 8 in (4 to 20 cm) long radiating from common point(s) on the culm in one or more whorls .. .

Chloris truncata R. Br.

Chloris pycnothrix Trin.

Species of Chloris included under a more recent name (=new name):

Fig. 13C. Dried flower head
of Chloris virgata illustrating
several diagnostic characteristics:
spikelets with two awns and
a crown of stiff hairs; spikelets
falling from rachis leaving
glumes (one short and one long)
still attached to rachis.