Aristida pendula

HABIT Perennial. Culms 100–120(–150) cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded (hairs extending to an initial collar). Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–1.5 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight, or flexuous (slightly); flat (lower), or convolute (upper); 18–43(–50) cm long; 3–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 30–35 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; 1 mm long; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower slightly shorter or longer than upper sometimes subequal). Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8.5 mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 9–11 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; with a median groove (ventral,longitudinal). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with (19–)20–27 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn (1.5–)2–3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns ascending; (15–)19–25 mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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