Derivation
Agrostis L., Sp. Pl. 61 (1753); from the Greek agrostis (a forage plant, a kind of grass), cf. agros (a field).

Common synonyms
Agrostis aff. scabra

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Culms erect, 125 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes smooth or scaberulous or retrorsely scabrous, glabrous. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 8 mm long, lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, 25 cm long, 2.5 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle open, pyramidal, 300 cm long, with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading, 13 cm long, naked below.

Spikelets
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, laterally compressed, 2.5–2.75 mm long, breaking up at maturity.

Glumes
Lower glume 2.5–2.75 mm long. Upper glume 2–2.5 mm long.

Florets
Fertile lemma 1.75 mm long. Lemma apex muticous. Palea absent or minute. Anthers 3, 0.5–1 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Tasmania: East Coast, Mt Wellington.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Aveneae

Notes
Endemic to the east coast of Tasmania.

Return to Top