Aristida californica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–30 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–9 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose, or simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–16 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; purple; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; spreading; with 25–45 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 15–20 mm long. Lateral lemma awns spreading as much as principal; 25–45 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA and Mexico.

NOTES Aristideae. Gr Baja Cal 1994.

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