Agrostis wacei

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming; clumped densely. Culms slender; 10–20 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; ribbed; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, or curved; aciculate; involute; 1–1.5 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–4 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; terete; 1–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.6–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas, or gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; 1–1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.2–1.4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 5 -fid; truncate. Palea oblong; 1 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Aveneae. CEH 1999.

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