Agrostis pittieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 30–60 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Culm-nodes purple. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–3.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 7–15 cm long; 0.6–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 9–11 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 length of fertile spikelet; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.9–3.9 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; shiny; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 2.9–3.9 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 apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.8–3.4 mm long; 1.5–1.7 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 ovate; 1.9–2 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure; extending close to apex. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–3 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 0.7–1.1 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana and northern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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