Agrostis drummondiana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–7 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle retrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at most nodes. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 7–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; hyaline. Rhachilla extension pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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