Aristida australis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–65 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes glaucous; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–24 cm long; 0.2–0.3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; acute. Floret callus hairs 1.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 13 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 14–17 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 14–17 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aristideae. Simon 1993.

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