Aristida denudata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 3–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; bearded; truncate, or obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–8.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–11 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6.5–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above and in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; reflexed; with 30–35 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 25–30 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.3 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. FZ.

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