Aristida

Aristida adscensionis

The plant genus Aristida belongs to the family of grasses ( Poaceae ). It includes about 300 species.

Description

The Aristida species are predominantly perennial (236 species ), rarely annuals ( 54 species ) herbaceous plants. These grasses usually do not form (275 species), rarely a short ( ten species ) or a long rhizome (only three species). They usually form upright, unbranched stems. The ligule is reduced in almost all kinds on a hair wreath.

The most terminal, paniculate inflorescences consist of mostly solitary, stalked spikelets, each containing a fertile flower. The flowers contain two Lodiculae and three stamens. In many species there are the typical three-part awn, of which the English common name "Three - awn " is derive.

Dissemination

The genus Aristida is widely used in North and South America, Africa and Australasia.

System

The genus Aristida belongs to the tribe Aristideae in the subfamily Aristidoideae within the family of grasses ( Poaceae ).

There are just over 300 Aristida species. The most familiar type is:

• Aristida adscensionis L.; it is widespread cosmopolitan in the tropics and subtropics, it is also present in Europe in Crete, Sicily and in the southern parts of Spain and Italy. Linnaeus has this kind in 1753 in his work ' Species plantarum ' on page 82 for the first time and named after the Ascension Island in the Atlantic. From this island he knew only four higher plant species and even later (up to 1940) were known collectively Ascension of no more than 26 or 35 such species.