Deschampsia tenella

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 4–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.2 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar (muticous). Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–3 mm long; hyaline; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 3–4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical, or dorsal; arising 0.9 way up back of lemma; straight; 1.5–3 mm long overall. Palea hyaline. Palea keels ciliate. Rhachilla extension 0.4–0.5 length of fertile floret; pubescent.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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