Deschampsia christophersenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths coriaceous; persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long; 2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute, or convolute; 5–20 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute, or acute; muticous, or pungent; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 7–15 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 3–6 cm long. Panicle axis hispidulous. Panicle branches glabrous, or hispidulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–4 mm long; smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 2–2.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 7.5–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 7.5–9 mm long; chartaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 4.5–6 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lateral lobes bidentate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–8 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Rhachilla extension pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Aveneae. Hubbard 1999.

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