Agrostis variabilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 8–15 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2.5 mm long; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–6 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.4–0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–2.5 mm long overall. Palea 0.2–0.4 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3–0.5 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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