Deschampsia venustula

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 5–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 1–2.5 cm long; 0.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1.5–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 1 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.7–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4–5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension pilose.

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

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1995.

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