Aristida vickeryae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–45 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; involute; 4–16 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 12–15 cm long; 3–5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.2 mm long; pubescent; pungent. Floret callus hairs 1.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–13 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; coriaceous; pallid, or light brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins involute, or convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn with 33–37 mm long limb; without a column; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 30–35 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aristideae. Simon 1993.

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