Agrostis tsiafajavonensis

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 30–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown. Leaf-sheaths striately veined. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–17 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 13–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 4–5 -nate; whorled at lower nodes; 3–6 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 5–10 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; straight; 5 mm long overall; without a column. Palea hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aveneae. Camus 2007.

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