Aristida multiramea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal and intravaginal. Culms erect; 25–30 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches fastigiate; arising from lower culm and mid culm. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 2–12 cm long; 0.4–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 4–10 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; angular; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.75 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 6–9 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Upper glume linear; 9–12 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; with 8–20 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns gyrate; 6–18 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; without sulcus; 8–8.5 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Caro 1995.

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