Deschampsia berteroana

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 25–50 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 5–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 1.5–1.8 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5–6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 7–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 1–2; 0.5 mm long; retained within floret. 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.