Agrostis balansae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 28–75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 4–27 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5.5–15 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2.5–5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; terete; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.7–1 mm long; 0.4 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; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3.2–4 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.33 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long. Stigmas 2; laterally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.3–1.6 mm long. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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