Poaceae
Desmazeria

Desmazeria sicula (Jacq.) Dumort.

First published in Comment. Bot.: 27 (1822)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Spain, SW. Sardegna, W. Sicilia, S. Italy, N. Algeria, NE. Tunisia, Libya. It is an annual and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 8-25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.4-2.5 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 2-13 cm long; 1-2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; oblong; unilateral; 2-4 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5-1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 8-20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5-20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 8-20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5-20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5-3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3-3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5-4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; with capitate hairs. Lemma hairs 0.2 mm long. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3; 3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; concavo-convex. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.
Distribution
Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.
Reference
Poeae. WDC.
[GB]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13165092/18610018

Conservation
NT - near threatened
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/100363296/100363418

Conservation
NT - near threatened
[IUCN]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0