Aristida lanosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 70–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths without keel; woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute; 20–50 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or hispid; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–40 cm long; 2–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 6–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

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 elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–14 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading, or reflexed; with 15–25 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 10–15 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Aristideae. Gr Tex 1993.

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