Aristida chaseae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 10–15 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 11–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 10–13 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 2 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 10–13 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 11 mm long; coriaceous; light brown and purple; mottled with last colour; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 20 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 20 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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