Nardus stricta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 25–60 cm long; wiry; 1 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; membranous; translucent; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 4–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; 0.8 mm wide; scaberulous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the upper absent or obscure; persistent. Lower glume ovate; 0.25–1 mm long; 0.1–0.5 length of spikelet.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–9 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–3 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface smooth; pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long. Stigmas 1; papillose.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 3–4 mm long. Embryo 0.15 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Caucasus, and western Asia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. North America: Subarctic, eastern Canada, and northeast USA. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Nardeae. FW 1994.

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