Aristida murina

HABIT Perennial. Culms 25–50(–76) cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or bearded (deciduous). Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight, or curved; conduplicate; 10–25(–30) cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; 9–15(–18) cm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 0.8–1 mm long; pilose; acute (or subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 1–18 mm long; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex dentate (sometimes); 2 -fid (sometimes); acute, or acuminate; muticous, or awned (shortly). Upper glume lanceolate; 20–35 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma laterally compressed (slightly); 13–15(–17) mm long; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface smooth; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 55–105 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 55–105 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma apex sometimes with an hyaline appendage 0.8–1mm.

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