Aristida pallens

HABIT Perennial. Culms 28–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or scanty. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight; convolute; 8–14(–16) cm long; 0.5–0.9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairless except near base; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (erect,subcontracted); 14–16(–20) 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 evident; straight; 0.4–0.5(–0.6) mm long; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 12–20(–27) mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 28–37(–40) mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 11–12 mm long; without keel; rounded except near apex; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 65–100 mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 65–100 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Culms grouped in fascicles. Lemma apex with an hyaline appendage 1–1.5mm.

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