Agrostis pallescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 3–5 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.1–0.6 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 0.5–2.5 cm long; 0.2–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 0.6–2 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.8 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 obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; extending close to apex. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse; muticous. Palea 0.4–0.6 mm long; 0.33 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2–0.4 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Edgar 1994.

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