Poaceae
Calamagrostis

Calamagrostis purpurascens R.Br.

First published in J.Franklin, Narr. Journey Polar Sea: 731 (1823)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Subarctic to NE. Mexico. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

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]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 30-90 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or antrorsely scabrous; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-4 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; erose; truncate. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or involute; 2-4 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle contracted; linear; 4-10 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5-8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of lemma.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5-8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of lemma.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5-8 mm long; 1.1-1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1-3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4-7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6-10 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension pilose; with 1 mm long hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; 0.6 mm long. Anthers 3; 2.5-2.8 mm long. Stigmas 2.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, and eastern Asia. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, and southwest USA.
Reference
Aveneae. Fl Pac NW 1994.
[GB]

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

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. 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 2026. 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