Aristida stricta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flexuous; involute; 30–40 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 25–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 7–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.75 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1–2 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 7–9 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 6 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn ascending, or spreading; with 10–15 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading as much as principal; 8–12 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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