Aristida schiedeana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 75–150 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–40 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 6–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.7 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy generally, or in lines. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–11 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or 3-branched; with 5–15 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5–6 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 0–2.5 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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