Aristida lanigera

HABIT Perennial. Culms 85–95 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curled (lower), or straight (upper); flat (lower), or convolute (upper); 40–60 cm long; 2.8–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface woolly; hairless throughout; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted (or subcontracted); 15–29 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 mm long; pilose; obtuse (subobtuse).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; (3.5–)5–5.5 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–6.8 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 8–8.5 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 11–18 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 9–16 mm long; slightly shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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