Aristida hubbardiana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 25–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or lanceolate; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.66–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex rostrate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 20–30 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 20–30 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; sulcate on hilar side.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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