Agrostis meyenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms 2–18 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long; erose; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; conduplicate; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–6.5 cm long; 0.3–0.7 cm wide. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.4–4.1 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.4–4.1 mm long; 1.4–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7–2.6 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex erose; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; straight; 1–2 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea 0.35–0.7 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.25–0.55 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.1–1.6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1997.

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