Chloris virgata Sw.
Feather fingergrass
Feather fingergrass is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas. In the Galápagos Islands, it is found on Baltra, Daphne, Española, Floreana, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, and Seymour.
Plants: Usually forms clumps up to 3′ (1 m) tall, with round, smooth stems.
Leaves: Alternate, narrow blades are up to 10 ⨉ ⅛–¼″ (25 cm ⨉ 3–7 mm).
Flowers: Spikelets on tops have 2 glumes, a single fertile floret, and one or more undeveloped florets. The spikelets appear feathery.
Fruits: Grains with a single seed.
Habitats: Disturbed areas, farmlands.
Online References:
References:
McMullen, Conley K., Flowering Plants of the Galápagos, Comstock Publishing Associates, 1999, p. 240
4/3/2025 · North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Heather Kent and Kathryn Morgis 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Commelinidae | Dayflowers and spiderworts, and several others |
| Order | Cyperales | Flowering plants including grasses |
| Family | Poaceae | Grasses (but not sedges or rushes) |
| Genus | Chloris | Named for the Greek goddess of flowers, Chloris (Flora in Roman mythology), daughter of Amphion. A related Latin word is chloris, “verdant,” from Greek chloros, “green” |
| Species | virgata | Wand-like, twiggy in growth, referring to the tall, bare stems |
Chloris virgata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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