Aristida papuana

HABIT Perennial. Culms 25–45 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–12.5 cm long; 0.5–1.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–13 cm long; 4 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.8–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 30 mm long limb; with twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 5.5–8 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 30 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.25 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Aristideae. Veldkamp 1997.

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