Danthonia californica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–100 cm long; disarticulating at the nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 2–5 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed.

Spikelets spreading, or deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 10–20 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 3–4 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Arundineae. Man US Gr 1993.

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