Deschampsia cespitosa

Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly called tufted hairgrass, is a native perennial, tussock- forming grass. It is also called Beringian grass.

Synonyms:

• Agrostis caespitosa (L.) Salisb.
• Aira alpicola (Rydb.) Rydb.
• Aira ambigua Michx.
• Aira aristulata Torr.
• Aira caespitosa Muhl.
• Aira cespitosa L.
• Avena caespitosa (L.) Kuntze
• Campella caespitosa (L.) Link
• Deschampsia alpicola Rydb.
• Deschampsia ambigua P. Beauv. ex B.D. Jacks.
• Deschampsia andina Phil.
• Deschampsia biebersteiniana Schult.
• Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.
• Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. genuina (Reichenb.) Volk.
• Deschampsia cespitosa var. confinis Vasey ex Beal
• Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. genuina (Reichenb.) Volk.
• Deschampsia cespitosa var. strictior Kurtz
• Deschampsia confinis (Vasey ex Beal) Rydb.
• Deschampsia pungens Rydb.
• Podionapus caespitosus (L.) Dulac

Taxonomy

• Kingdom Plantae – plants
• Subkingdom Viridaeplantae – green plants
• Division Tracheophyta – vascular plants
• Subdivision Spermatophytina – seed plants,
• Infradivision Angiospermae – flowering plants
• Class Magnoliopsida
• Superorder Lilianae – monocotyledons
• Order Poales
• Family Poaceae – grasses
• Genus Deschampsia P. Beauv. – hairgrass
• SpeciesDeschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. – tufted hairgrass

Description

Tufted hairgrass is a densely cespitose cool-season native perennial bunchgrass. Culms are hollow, slender, erect, and 8 to 48 inches (20-120 cm) in height. Abundant leaves form basal tufts; blades are 0.8 to 13 inches (2-33 cm) long and 0.04 to 0.16 inch (1-4 mm) wide. The inflorescence is generally a loose, open panicle, though occasionally narrow and contracted; it is 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) long. Branches are whorled, hairlike, and spikelet-bearing near their tips. Spikelets are two- to occasionally three-flowered. Lemmas are awned toward the base. The fruit is a caryopsis.

References

Seed

Abbreviation: DECE

Average Measurement with husk/awn: 3.4 x 0.8 x 0.8

Average Measurement without husk/awn: 1.8 x 0.6 x 0.6

Measurement Range with husk/awn: L: 2.5 – 4.5, W: 0.5 – 1, D: 0.6 – 1

Measurement Range with husk/awn: L: 1.5 – 2, W: 0.5 – 0.75, D: 0.5 – 0.6

Features

Shape: Seed narrow at hilum and opposite apex, rounded in the middle.

Additional Structures: Lemma thin, and have several nerves running across them. Awn originates from the hilum and is about 1 ½ times the length of the seed body. Hilum bearded with feather like appendage. Palea also thin.

Color: Tan palea and lemma, awn slightly darker brown. Inner seed red-brown, and somewhat transparent.

Surface: Seed finely longitudinally striate and lustrous. Awn finely barbed.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical