Aristida subaequans

HABIT Annual. Culms 60–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades straight; flat (generally), or convolute; 35–40 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; 14–16 cm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 1 mm long; pilose; acute (subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower longer than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; 8–13(–15) mm long; 1 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–20 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma subterete; 10–11 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above; with a median groove (ventral,longitudinal). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; simple at base; with 25 mm long limb (from x to 25); without a column. Lateral lemma awns spreading as much as principal; 25 mm long (from x to 25); subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

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