Deschampsia angusta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–18 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 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 elliptic; 7–8 mm long; 1.7–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; membranous; yellow, mid-green, and purple; shiny; without keel; 4 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.2–0.3 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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