Aristida echinulata

HABIT Perennial. Culms 23–25 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; 3.5–13 cm long; 1.3–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted (subcontracted); 10–15 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; 1 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 11–15 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 19–25 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 12–14 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface papillose, or tuberculate (strongly); rough generally, or above; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 55–80 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 50–72 mm long; shorter than 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.