Agrostis volkensii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 6–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation, or with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 2–10 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–4.5 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–4.5 mm long; 1–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Rhachilla extension 0.05–0.1 length of fertile floret.

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.