Aristida L.

Lemma with 3 awns or awn 3-branched Aristida

Margins of the lemma overlapping, lemma therefore circular in section without a longitudinal furrow

Lemma distinctly longer than both glumes

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Lower glume 4.5 mm long or less. Panicle finally becoming divaricately branched, up to 18 cm long. Lemma 8–12 mm long. Widespread. Sandy soils. Fl. summer–autumn Aristida vagans

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Lower glume more than 4.5 mm long. Panicle spike-like or with some ± erect branches, up to 18 cm long. Lemma 6–10 mm long; awn branches 10–15 mm long. Widespread. Sandy soils. Fl. summer–autumn (A. vegans and A. ramosa are known to hybridize in areas where they co-occur. The hybrid has a lower glume >4.5 mm long and a lemma 10–14 mm long.) Aristida ramosa