| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.
Annual, perennial herb, some ± dioecious
Stem 0.3–12 dm
Leaf: sheath open to closed (best observed on upper stem leaf); ligule thin, flexible; blade grooved above on both sides of midvein, flat, folded, or inrolled, generally smooth or scabrous on veins, generally prow-tipped
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches appressed to drooping
Spikelet generally compressed, breaking between florets; glumes 2, similar, generally < lowest lemma, awnless; florets generally 2–6; callus indistinct, often with obvious tuft of long cobwebby hairs; lemma generally keeled to base, of same texture as glumes, awnless, veins generally 5, ± converging near tip; palea well developed, keels generally scabrous; fertile anthers 0.2–4.5 mm; ovary glabrous
Species in genus: ± 500 species: temp and cool regions
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
Reference: [Soreng 1991 Syst Bot 16:507–528]
CA is center of diversity in North America. Spikelet features best observed on lowest florets of spikelet.
| Native |
Perennial, densely cespitose, all current shoots flowering, generally 0.5–1.5 dm
Leaf: sheath open > 4/5 length; ligule 0.5–3 mm, truncate and finely scabrous at margin to acute and smooth; blade 1–2 mm wide, soft, flat or folded, abruptly ascending or spreading
Inflorescence 1–5 cm, lanceolate to ovate; branches ascending to appressed, generally < 1.5 cm, generally scabrous on angles
Spikelet: upper internodes < 1 mm, not elongated; glumes 3-veined, upper 2.5–3.5 mm (< 3/4 length of lower); callus glabrous; lemma 2.5–3.5 mm, veins and base hairy
Flower: anthers 1.2–1.8 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=42–70
Ecology: Dry alpine slopes, ridges
Elevation: 3300–4000 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s High Sierra Nevada, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to sw Canada, New Mexico
Flowering time: Summer
Synonyms: P. rupicola Nash