Aristida batangensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–70 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths loose; scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, or curved; involute; 3–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 8.5–9 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; with 7 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 5–6 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 7–8 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Aristideae. Tang & Liu 2006.

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