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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Aristida leptopoda

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–65 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches fastigiate. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Collar glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades involute; 15–30 cm long; 3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 14–25 cm long; 12–23 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 4–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–22 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–22 mm long; 0.75–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 12–17 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; with 23–30 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 19–25 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 10.5 mm long. 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.