Aristida neglecta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 7–9 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 10 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 10–15 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3–4 mm long. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 10–15 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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