Agrostis quinqueseta

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 15–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; 4–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3–4.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1.2–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3.5–5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.6–0.7 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension 0–0.2 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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