Agrostis pallens

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; wiry. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; entire, or erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 10–20 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; lanceolate; 3–10 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 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; 3 mm long; 1.1 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 elliptic; 2.4–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex truncate; muticous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3–0.4 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl. Pac. NW 2000.

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