Aristida meraukensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–120 cm long; 1 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 7–40 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–3 -nate; 4–9 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 7–8 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 10–12 mm long; 1.4–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; recurved at base of limb; with 30 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 12–13 mm long. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 25 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Aristideae. Henrard 1994.

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