Agrostis mannii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 25–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–25 cm long; 1.5–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense, or loose; 2–10 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.6–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; 1.4–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension 0.2–0.3 length of fertile floret; pilose.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and northeast tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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