Agrostis brachiata

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; slender; 60–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–6 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 7–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 3–5 -nate; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; terete; 4–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.5 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. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex truncate; muticous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 1997.

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