Info
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus etymology: Lachnagrostis = "wool agrostis" refering to how this is similar to Agrostis but with with a hairy lemma
Species etymology: filiformis = "thread shaped" [Latin] refering to the inflorescence branches
Photosynthetic type: C3 (cool season)
Nativity: indigenous
Map
Inflorescence
Plant
Spikelets
Description
Clump-forming perennials; culms erect or decumbent at base, 20-60 cm tall, thin, 1-2 mm in diameter, glabrous. Sheaths loosely clasping the stem, margins overlapping, glabrous or scabrous; ligule conspicuous, membranous, linear-triangular, 6-8 mm long, glabrous, margins entire, apex acuminate but often frayed; blades flat, 10- 20 cm long, 0.5-3 mm wide, upper surface scabrous, lower surface glabrous, apex acuminate. Inflorescences paniculate, terminal, the branches numerous, flexuous, scabrous, ascending to spreading, diffuse in appearance, 10-30 cm long; spikelets numerous, present only on distal 1/3-1/2 of primary inflorescence branches, pale, rachilla partly obscured by a cluster of silky hairs extending 1/2-3/4 the length of the palea; glumes 2-3 mm long, completely enclosing the floret, acuminate, the keel prominent, scabrous to ciliate, margins membranous to chartaceous, glabrous; Iemma obtuse, 1.5- 2mm long, evenly silky pubescent, upper 1/4 bifid, awn attached near middle of lemma, 3-4 mm long, geniculate, lower portion glabrous, distinctly thickened, upper portion scabrous; palea ca. 1.3 mm long, narrow, glabrous, apex acute. Caryopsis brown, ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, glabrous. 2n = 56.
(Description source: O’Connor, P.J. 1990. Poaceae, pp. 1481–1604. In: Wagner W.L., Herbst D.R. & Sohmer S.H. (eds.)., Manual of the flowering plant of Hawaiʻi. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu )