Agrostis vidalii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Culm-nodes brown, or purple; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 2–14 cm long; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3.5 mm long; erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades 2–11 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 6–15 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or with occasional prickles. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; hairy in 2 tufts.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; 0.5 mm long overall. Palea 1.1–1.5 mm long; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.6–0.8 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.2–1.6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1995.

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