Agrostis blasdalei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–15 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate, or involute; 2–4 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; 2–3 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 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; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 1 mm long overall. Palea 0.3 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.75–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Man US Gr 1994.

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