Deschampsia argentea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–85 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5.5–13 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.6–1.5 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 12–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 3.5–4.4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3.7–5.1 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.9–4.4 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 4 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 0.3–0.4 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.3–1.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Mad 1997.

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