Aristida warburgii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–90 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate, or bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Collar glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 8–16 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 11–15 cm long; 2–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 10–22 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.2–2 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–11.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 8.5–17 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7–11 mm long; coriaceous; pallid and light brown; mottled with last colour; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; reflexed; with 17–33 mm long limb; with twisted column; persistent. Column of lemma awn 5–17 mm long. Lateral lemma awns spreading less than principal; 12–28 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 6–7 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aristideae. Simon 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Mid awn thicker than laterals.

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