Aristida hystrix

HABIT Perennial. Culms 60–130 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3.5–9 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–40 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 10–20 cm long; 10–20 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 4–7 mm long; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 13–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5–3 mm long; bearded; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; scarious; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2.5–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–14 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 50–60 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 50–60 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Aristideae. Patunkar 1993.

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