Danthonia DC.

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Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Rhizomes absent (18), or short (7), or elongated (1). Culms erect (16/18), or geniculately ascending (4/18), or decumbent (2/18); slender (1/1); 4-38.79-100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (3/3). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (24), or deciduous at the ligule (1); filiform (9), or linear (17); stiff (1), or firm (24).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle (22), or comprising only a few spikelets (6). Panicle open (18/22), or contracted (6/22). Spikelets appressed (2/3), or ascending (1/3), or spreading (1/3), or deflexed (1/3); solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2-5-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (22), or oblong (1), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 6.5-15.72-30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief (2), or evident (23); pubescent (11), or pilose (14), or bearded (3); truncate (1), or obtuse.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2-5-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (22), or oblong (1), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 6.5-15.72-30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief (2), or evident (23); pubescent (11), or pilose (14), or bearded (3); truncate (1), or obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (2), or reaching apex of florets (6), or exceeding apex of florets (19); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (24), or gaping (1). Lower glume linear (4), or lanceolate (22), or ovate (1); 0.8-1-1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (24), or 1-keeled (1); 3 -veined (20), or 4 -veined (11), or 5 -veined (16), or 6-7 -veined (6). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (2), or distinct (23). Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (6), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (1). Upper glume linear (4), or lanceolate (22), or ovate (1); 0.75-2.179-7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with undifferentiated margins (22), or hyaline margins (3); without keels (24), or 1-keeled (1); 3 -veined (16), or 4 -veined (8), or 5 -veined (15), or 6 -veined (4), or 7 -veined (6). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (6), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma elliptic (22), or oblong (2), or ovate (3); chartaceous (19), or coriaceous (6); of similar consistency on margins (23), or much thinner on margins (2); without keel; 5 -veined (13/21), or 7 -veined (4/21), or 8 -veined (3/21), or 9 -veined (7/21), or 10-11 -veined (1/21). Lemma midvein eciliate (24), or ciliate (1). Lemma surface glabrous (10), or pubescent (4), or pilose (11); without hair tufts (23), or with marginal hair tufts (2). Lemma margins eciliate (7), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (14), or pubescent (1). Lemma apex dentate (1), or lobed (24); 2 -fid; incised 0.25-0.4233-0.66 of lemma length; acute (1/2), or acuminate (1/2); mucronate (1), or awned (24); 1 -awned (4/24), or 3 -awned (20/24). Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight (1), or curved (1), or geniculate (23). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (18/18). Palea 0.5-0.8333-1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (24/24). Palea keels wingless (22), or winged (3); smooth (23), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1); eciliate (9), or ciliolate (16). Palea surface glabrous (20), or pubescent (1), or pilose (4). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (24), or distinct from fertile (1); 1 in number (1/1); barren (1/1); rudimentary (1/1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2; fleshy; glabrous (23), or ciliate (5); truncate (1/1). Anthers 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (6/8), or ovoid (1/8), or obovoid (1/8). Embryo 0.33-0.4263-0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (2/24), or linear (22/24); 0.2-0.2883-0.33 length of caryopsis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Cleistogene

Cleistogenes absent (6), or present (19); in upper sheaths (2/19), or in lower sheaths (18/19).

Distribution

Europe (2), or Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (3), or Australasia (1), or North America (10), or South America (16).