Deschampsia cespitosa

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Revision as of 13:07, 7 May 2012 by Evaeli22 (Talk | contribs) (Taxonomy)

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 – Planta, plantes, plants, Vegetal
  • Subkingdom Viridaeplantae – green plants
  • Division Tracheophyta – tracheophytes, vascular plants
  • Subdivision Spermatophytina – phanérogames, seed plants, spermatophytes
  • Infradivision Angiospermae – flowering plants
  • Class Magnoliopsida
  • Superorder Lilianae – monocots, monocotylédones, monocotyledons
  • Order Poales
  • Family Poaceae – graminées, grasses
  • Genus Deschampsia P. Beauv. – hairgrass
  • Species Deschampsia 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.

Bloom Period

Distribution

Habitat

Uses

Propagation

Photo Gallery

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 DECE lat.png

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical DECE long.png