Agrostis bergiana

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms weak; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–9 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 6–15 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.5–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; muticous, or awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight, or curved; 0–2 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south and middle Atlantic ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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