Aristida vagans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 38–85 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse, or ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–11.5 cm long; 3–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–5 cm long. Panicle branches with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–7 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 6–9.5 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 4–8 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 6–9 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.3–0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aristideae. Simon 1993.

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