Aristida takeoi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; slender; 40–60 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths tight; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–20 cm long; 0.3–0.7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 -nate; 5–9 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 11–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–8.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; light green; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 18–20 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 11–13 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 13–16 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia.

NOTES Aristideae. Gr Japan 1997.

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