Agrostis meridensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 45 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus sparsely hairy, or pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–3.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–3.8 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface hispidulous. Lemma apex entire; obtuse; muticous. Palea 0.25 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 0.25 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Luces 1996.

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