Deschampsia maderensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.35 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–6.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; not whorled.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–7.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 3.3–7.3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5.8–7.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.4–6.3 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 4 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 0.3–0.4 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.6–3.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Mad 1997.

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