Aristida venustula

HABIT Perennial. Culms 20–35(–45) cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; 5–18 cm long; 0.5–0.8(–1.2) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairless except near base; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (pauciflore); 8–20 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; 0.7–1 mm long; pilose; acute (subacute).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar (lower shorter than upper). Lower glume lanceolate; (11–)14–19 mm long; 3–5 -veined (lateral veins convergent with the central). Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; (17–)20–33 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex entire; setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma laterally compressed (slightly); 11–18 mm long; keeled (slightly ABOVE); 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface smooth, or scabrous; rough above (2/3); without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; ascending; simple at base; with 55–90(–100) mm long limb; without a column. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 55–90(–100) mm long; subequal to principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil, southern South America, and western South America (Bolivia).

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Culms grouped in fascicles. Lemma apex with an hyaline appendage 1–1.5mm.

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