Aristida refracta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms prostrate; 20–60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–3 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4–5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; mucronate. Upper glume linear; 5–7 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4.5 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 10 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns gyrate; 10 mm long; subequal to 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.