Dupontia fisheri

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 10–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–13 cm long; 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; keeled; lightly keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma apex obtuse, or cuspidate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Rhachilla extension 0.33–0.5 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, and eastern Canada.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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