Aristida elliptica

HABIT Perennial. Culms 20–25(–50) cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight; conduplicate (commonly), or flat; 6–14 cm long; 1.8–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle capitate; 2.5–4 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 evident; straight; 0.2 mm long; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower longer than upper sometimes subequal). Lower glume lanceolate; 7.5–9.2 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous (denselly); rough generally. Lower glume apex acute (shortly awned); muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex entire; acute (shortly awned).

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 4–5.5 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 7–14 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 5.5–12 mm long; shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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