Agrostis diffusior

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 40–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; effuse; 15–30 cm long; 8–17 cm wide. Primary panicle branches branching divaricately. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.3–4.8 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; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.3–4.8 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 2.8–4 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 2.6–3.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent (0.3–0.6mm). Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4.2–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.5–0.75 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension 0.2–2 mm long; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eth 1997.

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