Aristida migiurtina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 9–20 cm long; with 0.1–0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; involute; 2–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or elliptic; 7–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 0.75–1 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–13 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume linear; 12–22 mm long; 3–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4.5–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 65–80 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 15–20 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 50–60 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.33 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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