Aristida aequiglumis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–40 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 2–4 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–9.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas, or recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–9 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–9.5 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 15–25 mm long limb; with twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 2–8 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 13–20 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Aristideae. FZ.

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