Agrostis schmidii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 0.3–0.5 cm long. Leaf-blades 5–7.5 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 3–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 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 lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.5–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Brit India 1994.

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