Aristida brevissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–40 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; 1–2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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 brief; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; with 2 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 0.4 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.