Aristida suringarii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 50–60 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; smooth. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–15 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; loose; 20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate.

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 elongated; 0.5 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4–5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 5.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; 15 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 15 mm long; subequal to principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean and northern South America.

NOTES Aristideae. Henrard 2002.

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