Deschampsia domingensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 60–90 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades erect; flexuous; conduplicate, or involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pubescent, or pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.5–2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–6 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with lobes 0.5 mm long; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Aveneae. Man Gr WI 1997.

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