Deschampsia setacea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–20 cm long; 0.2–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 6–15 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–4 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; pubescent. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 1.6–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 4 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. 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; 3–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.5 length of fertile floret; pilose.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, and southwestern. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. CEH.

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