Deschampsia kingii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms robust; 60–140 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–18 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex muticous, or pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; nodding; 15–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–3) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6.5 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 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; truncate. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 1–3 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.7–0.9 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.5 mm long. 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.