Aristida vilfifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved, or flexuous; flat, or involute; 3–5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 6–8 mm long; membranous; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; with 10–15 mm long limb. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 6–10 mm long; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aristideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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