Deschampsia mildbraedii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–120 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–12 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 25–45 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense, or loose, or effuse; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–12 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 5–7 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5–8 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; membranous; yellow, mid-green, and purple; shiny; without keel; 4 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4–8 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.2–0.3 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTA.

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