Agrostis elliotiana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms weak; 10–30 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–7 cm long; 1–1.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.2–2.2 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; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.1–1.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex erose; obtuse; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 4–8 mm long overall; without a column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Tex 1993.

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