Aristida adoensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–60(–120) cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–25 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 5–20 cm long; 1 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned. Lower glume awn 0–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 15–22 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 15–22 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. FTEA.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.