Danthonia sericea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; disarticulating at the nodes. Leaf-sheaths pilose, or hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear; 6–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 12–17 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; 12–17 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–17 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 4–5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels 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: northeast USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Arundineae. Gould 1993.

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