Aristida pradana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flexuous; involute; 30–60 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 25–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; distant; 4–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes lower deciduous, upper persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 10–12 mm long; 1–1.05 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 10–12 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 15–17 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; with 20–30 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 10–15 mm long; shorter than 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.