Deschampsia pusilla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 2–5 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; acute. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; convolute; 1–2 cm long; 0.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; lanceolate, or oblong; 1 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous. Floret callus glabrous, or pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex erose, or dentate; 4 -fid; mucronate. Principal lemma awn (mucro) subapical. Rhachilla extension glabrous.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Cheeseman 1995.

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