Aristida pycnostachya

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 50–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 20–50 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted.

Panicle spiciform; oblong (oblanceolate); 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 29–38 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.7 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 23.5–27 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 29–38 mm long; 4–5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate; awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7.5 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 70–85 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 16 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 70–85 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Column not dilated above.

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