Agrostis capillaris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–70 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long (shorter than wide); truncate. Leaf-blades 1–15 cm long; 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong to ovate; 1–20 cm long; 1–12 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches capillary; terete; smooth.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic to oblong; 1.2–2.7 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex truncate. Palea oblong; 0.5–0.7 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2; laterally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; biconvex; estipitate; without sulcus; 1 mm long; smooth; apex unappendaged. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.9 length of caryopsis. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, and middle Atlantic ocean. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern and north-central. North America: Subarctic, eastern Canada, northwest USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, and southeast USA. South America: Mesoamericana, Brazil, and southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Aveneae. CEH.

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