Aristida hispidula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 4–8 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–15 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches appressed, or spreading; distant; 1–2 -nate; 1–6 cm long. Panicle branches glandular (in axils); pubescent; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 9–10 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume linear; 6–8.5 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 5–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above and in lines. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 8–11 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 7–10 mm long; subequal to principal, or shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. FZ.

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