Aristida anisochaeta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 3–9 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–12.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–7 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 10–12.5 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 45–65 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 8–12 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. WDC.

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