Poaceae
Agrostis

Agrostis mertensii Trin.

First published in Linnaea 10: 302 (1836)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Subarctic & Temperate Northern Hemisphere, Central Mexico, W. South America to W. Argentina. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subalpine or subarctic biome.

Descriptions

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 3000 - 3500 m.; Andes.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20-60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1-2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5-10 cm long; 0.5-3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; pyramidal; 5-15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes; 1-4 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or scabrous. Panicle branches smooth, or scabrous. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5-3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5-3 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 2-2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight, or geniculate; 2-4 mm long overall; without a column, or with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.75-1.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
Distribution
Europe: northern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet far east and eastern Asia. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, and southeast USA. South America: western South America and southern South America.
Reference
Aveneae. Man US Gr 1994.
[GB]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 3000–3500 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Santander.
Habit
Herb.
[UPFC]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35-60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4-5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; elliptic; 13-17 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5-1.7 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.4-0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 2 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.4-0.5 length of lemma; hyaline.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
Distribution
South America: western South America.
Reference
Aveneae. Gr Peru 1995.
[GB]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC.
[UPFC]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25-75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4-5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 2-3 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; elliptic; 10-15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at most nodes. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 2.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
Distribution
South America: western South America.
Reference
Aveneae. Gr Peru 1995.
[GB]

Sources

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0