Aristida humbertii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 150–180 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–6.75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; scarious; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–6.75 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 5.75–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1–1.5 mm long overall.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. Bourreil 2007.

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