Agrostis exserta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 10–20 cm long; 0 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades straight; involute; 1–4 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 1–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending; rebranched above middle. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.5–1.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–1.6 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex erose; obtuse; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 0–2 mm long overall. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; hyaline. Rhachilla extension 0.33 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Aveneae. Swallen 1995.

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