Aristida erecta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 50–100 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 25–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 5–10 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 12–15 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 10–12 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 12–13 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 20–30 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 15–25 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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