Aristida chinensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; involute; 10–15 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 6–8 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 0.7 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–11 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7.5–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 15–20 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns 10–15 mm long; shorter than principal; lemm awns 0.66 length of principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Malesia.

NOTES Aristideae. Lecomte 1994.

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