Agrostis producta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute (rarely); 3–25 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense, or loose; 5–20 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.7–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 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; 4–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Rhachilla extension 0.3–0.7 length of fertile floret (1–3mm); pilose; hairy below.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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