Aristida similis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–10 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–8 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; 4.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 12–13 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2–3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 9–10 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aristideae. Henrard 1994.

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