Agrostis aequivalvis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long; entire, or lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 4–6 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.1–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.1–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.1–4.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex erose; obtuse; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline. Rhachilla extension 0.6–1 mm long; pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.7 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, and northwest USA. South America: northern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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