Aristida latzii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 45–90 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–37 cm long; 1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.4 mm long; pubescent; acute. Floret callus hairs 1.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn flat below; with 6–15 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 6–15 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aristideae. Simon 1993.

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