Aristida hassleri

HABIT Perennial. Culms 60–90 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curled (lower), or straight (upper); flat (lower), or convolute (upper); 12–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–25 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; 0.5–0.6 mm long; pilose; acute (subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower longer than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 8.5–10(–12) mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–7(–8) mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 5–6(–8) mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous (denselly); rough above; with a median groove (ventral,longitudinal). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or flexuous (slightly); ascending, or spreading; simple at base; with (16–)18–20(–25) mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3–3.8(–4) mm long. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 13–16(–23) mm long; shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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