Agrostis humbertii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 50–60 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes black. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 14–22 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 6–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.4–0.6 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25–0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; with twisted 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.