Aristida condylifolia

HABIT Perennial. Culms 20–40(–50) cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curved, or straight; conduplicate; 6–16 cm long; 0.2–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 12–18 cm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 0.5–0.8 mm long; pilose; obtuse, or acute (subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 9–12(–15) mm long; 1–3 -veined (lateral veins free). Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acuminate (shortly awned); muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 18–28 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; acuminate (shortly awned).

FLORETS Fertile lemma laterally compressed, or subterete; 10–13(–15) mm long; without keel; rounded except near apex; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 50–80 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 50–80 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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