Agrostis decaryana

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 80–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 12 cm long; 4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; loose; 25 cm long; 10–12 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches distant; 10 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.15 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 4 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 2 mm long; hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. Camus 2007.

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