AGROSTIDE/E 



223 



Aristida Adscenscioniis, L. 



This grass is usually an annual becoming" a perennial under 

 favourable conditions. Stems are slender, sometimes even filiform, 

 erect, or ascending, simple or branched, varying in length from Q 

 inches to 3 feet. 



The leaf-sheath is glabrous, thinly striate. The ligule is a row of 

 fine short hairs. Nodes are glabrous. 



The leaf-blade is narrow, linear, tapering to a fine point, convolute 

 in bud, scabrid above and smooth below, with a minutely serrate, 

 very narrow, hyaline margin, l to 10 inches long and 1/12 inch 

 broad. 



The inflorescence is a lax, narrow, subsecund panicle, varying in 

 length from 3 to 12 inches, and with a slender glabrous peduncle ; 

 the main rachis is filiform and glabrous ; branches are either solitary 

 or binate, unequal ; branched either from the middle or the base ; 

 pedicels are short and capillary. 



Fig. 172. — Aristida Adscenscionis. 



1. A spikelet ; 2. first and second glumes; 3. palea ; 4. lodicules. stamens and ovary ; 

 5. third glume with awns ; 6. tjrain. 



The spikelets are narrow, erect, green, occasionally also purplish, 

 M to Yi inch long exclusive of the awn. There are three glumes. 

 The first glume is linear-lanceolate, acute, membranous, I -nerved 

 with a scaberulous keel, 1/16 to 3/ 16 inch long. The second glume 

 is longer than the first, linear-lanceolate, acute, occasionally 

 2-toothed and apiculate, i-veined about J i inch long and with a 

 smooth keel. The third glume is as long as the second or slightly 

 longer, laterally compressed, 3-nerved, smooth but scaberulous 

 along the keel, awned ; there are three scabrid awns, varying in 

 length from ^ to % inch, continuous with the glume without a 

 column, not jointed, and the middle awn is longer than the lateral 

 ones ; the callus is long, pointed and villous. There is a minute 

 palea. Lodicules are two, similar to the palea in size, linear oblong. 

 Anthers are yellow dotted with purple, i The ovary is oblong linear 

 with two white feathery stigmas. 



Grain is long and linear. 



