Agrostis salaziensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades appressed; 8–20 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–15 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 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; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea present, or absent or minute; ovate; 0.3 mm long; 0.15 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.7 mm long. Embryo 0.2–0.25 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 2009.

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