Deschampsia airiformis

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 3–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 0.3–1.5 cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 1.5–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 1.3–1.5 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long; 0.33 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; with lobes 0.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25–0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–4.5 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1995.

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