Agrostis wardii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 7–14 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 3–6 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.7–3.1 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Palea 2 mm long; 0.8–1 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Bor 1994.

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