Aristida transvaalensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 7–15 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 4–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–11.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–9 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–10 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 10–11.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 6–13 mm long limb; with twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 1–6 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 1–8 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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