Aristida wildii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 35–55 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–22 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 20–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; 1–2 -nate; 3–6 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches glandular (in axils); scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10.5–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 10.5–11 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 11–16 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 6–13 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.1 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. FZ.

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