Deschampsia minor

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 8–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–4 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong, or ovate; interrupted; 1.5–2 cm long; 0.7–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.6 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–2.5 mm long overall. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.2 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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