Deschampsia cordillerarum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 3–4 cm long; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–15 mm long; bilobed. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–8 cm long; 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; 1–1.4 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25–0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 1–1.4 mm long; pilose.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Parodi 1997.

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