Aristida scribneriana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–100 cm long. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface woolly. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; 1.6–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface woolly. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 10–15 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 4–5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 10–15 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Aristideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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