Aristida condensata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; dense; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 5–10 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 8–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 8–9 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; 8 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a short cylindrical neck; with this appendage 1 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; ascending, or spreading; with 10–15 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading as much as principal and gyrate; 10–15 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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