Deschampsia chapmanii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute; 4–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.6–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; 1.3–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 3–5 -fid; truncate; mucronate. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.8–0.9 way up back of lemma; 0.2–0.5 mm long overall. Palea keels smooth. Rhachilla extension glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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