Aristida liebmannii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Leaves mostly basal; distichous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 8–9 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 8–9 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; with 20 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading as much as principal; 20 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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