Aristida parodii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 20–30 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–8.5 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; laterally compressed; 8–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with a short cylindrical neck; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 14 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns 10–11 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; without sulcus. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Henrard 1995.

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