Aristida gypsophila

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; filiform; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 5.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–7.5 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or geniculate; with 10 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 0–1 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Aristideae. Beetle 2001.

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