Aristida filifolia

HABIT Perennial. Culms 40–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; smooth. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 25–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–12 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; dense; 20–40 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; 30–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated.

GLUMES Glumes persistent. Lower glume lanceolate; 18–20 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of upper glume; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–50 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 16–20 mm long; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex with outer margin prolonged as a hyaline appendage; with this appendage 0.2–0.5 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; with 100–150 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 100–150 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Gr Uruguay 2000.

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