Aristida curtifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths 0.5–1 cm long; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades spreading; flat, or involute; 0.5–2 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

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 elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding 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 acute. Upper glume linear; 8–9 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; with 10–12 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 10–12 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Leaves in pairs.

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