Agrostis subulifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms weak; 5–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 1–7 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–3 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; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.7–2.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; muticous, or awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; straight; 0–1.5 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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