Aristida leptura

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 25–55 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 6–20 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 7–14 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5–3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 10 mm long. Upper glume linear; 20 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 60–65 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 30 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 60–65 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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