Agrostis tsaratananensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms geniculately ascending; 45–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–30 cm long; 10–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 5–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 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; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25–0.33 way up back of lemma; straight; 4–5 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Madag 1997.

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