Aristida stocksii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 10–20 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–6 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–9 cm long. Panicle branches with scattered hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 22–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 22–25 mm long; 3.5–4 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3 mm long. Upper glume linear; 6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 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 60–70 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 20 mm long; pubescent. Lateral lemma awns 60–70 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aristideae. WDC.

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