Aristida flaccida

HABIT Perennial. Culms 26–45 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight; convolute; 8–32 cm long; 1.2–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (pauciflore); 16–20 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; 0.7 mm long; pilose; acute (subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 11–12 mm long; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acute; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–16(–20) mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 19–25 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 19–25 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; (4–)7–8(–9) 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.