Aristida minutiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal; flabellate. Culms 20–30 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 2.5–7 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7–9 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 6–13 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular; scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 4.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 3–5 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume linear; 4.5–6 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; laterally compressed; 4.5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; with 7–15 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns 6–13 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.75–1 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; without sulcus; 4–6 mm long; light brown. Hilum curved.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Caro 1995.

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