Aristida protensa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; lanceolate (cuneate); 12–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 12–14 mm long; 0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 20–25 mm long; 4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 5–10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 80–90 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 6–8.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 80–90 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblanceolate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; veined; acute. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Column apex dilated.

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