Aristida rhiniochloa

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 20–60 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; interrupted; 8–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–17 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–15 mm long; 0.7–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 7–13 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough in lines. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 15–30 mm long limb; persistent. Lateral lemma awns 15–30 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.1 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Aristideae. FTEA.

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