Agrostis elliotii

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 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; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.5 mm long; 0.2 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 1994.

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