Aristida sanctae-luciae

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–25 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades erect; straight; conduplicate; 2.9–8 cm long; 0.8–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–9 cm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets subterete; 3.4–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.2–0.3 mm long; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.8–3.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; purple; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.4–3.8 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; purple; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 2.8–3.2 mm long; without keel; rounded throughout; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 7.5–10 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 0.8–1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns ascending; 7.5–10 mm long; shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aristideae. LO-W 2001.

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