Agrostis agrostiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches terete; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; terete.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 1.6–2.3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 0.25 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, and southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.

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