Aristida alpina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 12–22 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; 1–2 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 10–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3.5–7.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 10 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown, or black; 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 straight; with 10 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 3–5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Aristideae. Liou 1996.

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