Aristida brasiliensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 65–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curled (lower), or straight (upper); flat (lower), or convolute (upper); 25–50 cm long; 2.5–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; 16–23 cm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 1 mm long; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 15.5–20 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough generally. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 23.5–28 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 9–10 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 47–59 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 23–29 mm long. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 40–53 mm long; shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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