Agrostis delicatula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 3–10 cm long; 1–3.5 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 12–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; 2–3 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.2 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; 1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 0.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 5 -fid; incised 0.15 of lemma length; truncate; muticous. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Ligule longer than wide.

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