Agrostis leptotricha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms 20–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; nodding; 9–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex truncate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; straight; 0.2–1 mm long overall. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1995.

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