Agrostis sclerophylla

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms erect; 2–6 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 0.5–2 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–12 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 1 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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 glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.2–2.7 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–2.25 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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