Aristida lisowskii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 30–50 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; bearded; 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 3–3.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 2.5–3.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 18–25 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 17–22 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 18–25 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. Richel 2005.

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