Aristida laevigata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades curved, or flexuous; involute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20–30 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 12–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 12 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 12–14 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading, or reflexed; with 12–20 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 2–5 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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