Agrostis obtusissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–25 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–13 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 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; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; truncate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex erose; truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 0.5 mm long overall. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Mad 1997.

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