Agrostis taylorii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 5–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 8–14 cm long; 1.5–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2 -nate; 2–5 cm long. Panicle branches stiff; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–10 mm long; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; glandular (on veins); 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.2–2.8 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular (on veins); 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.3–0.4 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 2.5–4.5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 0.4 length of lemma; hyaline; 0–2 -veined; without keels, or 2-keeled. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret; pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.6–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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