Agrostis pilgeriana

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 7–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 5–14 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; loose, or effuse; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–3 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 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; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.2–2.8 mm long; 1.5–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.6–0.7 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–4 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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