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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Agrostis atlantica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose, or lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3–7 cm long; 1–1.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 7–9 secondary veins; 3–5 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 4–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 4–6 -nate. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches capillary; smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth, or scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–2.25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.25 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 2–2.75 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.75–2.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.6–2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent (0.3mm). Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; truncate, or obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33–0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 2–3 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.25–0.33 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; sulcate on hilar side; 1–1.2 mm long. Embryo 0.25–0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Afr N 1994.

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