Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris

(Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Mutel
Common names: Delicate hairgrass
Synonyms: Aira elegantissima Aira elegans
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 616.

Pedicels 2-11.3 mm, usually 2-8 times as long as the spikelets, gradually thickening to the apices. Spikelets 1.7-2.5 mm, spreading, divergent from the secondary branches, often purplish to reddish-purple-tinged; rachillas not prolonged or vestigial. Glumes subequal, 1.7-2.5 mm, 1-veined, acute; lower lemmas 1.3-1.8 mm, apices bifid, teeth to 0.1 mm, awns absent or to 2.6 mm, straight or geniculate; lower paleas 1-1.3 mm; upper lemmas 1.7-2.1 mm, apices bifid, teeth 0.2-0.4 mm, awned, awns 2.1-3 mm, geniculate; upper paleas 1-1.3 mm; anthers 0.2-0.4 mm, yellow-orange or purple. Caryopses 0.9-1.2 mm long, about 0.3 mm wide, glabrous.

Discussion

Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It usually grows in dry to somewhat moist, sandy loam soils of grassy banks, woodland openings, and disturbed sites such as pastures and roadsides.

Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris is the correct name for this taxon at the varietal level. If treated at the species level, its correct name is Aira elegans Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"decumbent" is not a number."-8timesaslongasthespikelets" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

lacerate +, acute +  and subobtuse +
membranous +  and scarious +
purple +  and yellow-orange +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
prow-tipped +
J.K. Wipff +
(Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Mutel +
1 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
straight +
attached +
basal +  and terminal +
0-2.6 mm +
geniculate +
0.21 cm2.1 mm <br />0.0021 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
keeled +  and rounded +
pseudopetiolate +  and branching +
intravaginal +, extravaginal +, branching +  and basal +
swelling +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (13.5 cm135 mm <br />0.135 m <br />) +
not evident +
scabridulous +
cross +, linear +  and narrowly lanceolate +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
capillary +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (?) +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
Delicate hairgrass +
not branching +
4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br /> (55 cm550 mm <br />0.55 m <br />) +
not woody +
Wash. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Conn. +, Mass. +, N.Y. +, Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +, Fla. +, Wyo. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, Tex. +, La. +, B.C. +, N.S. +, Yukon +, Tenn. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Pa. +, Calif. +, Va. +, Alaska +, Ala. +, Miss. +, Ark. +, Vt. +, Ill. +, Ga. +, Ind. +, Idaho +, Md. +, Ohio +, Mo. +, Okla. +  and Oreg. +
1/4 +  and 1/3 +
liquid +, soft +  and hard +
capillary +
pistillate +  and staminate +
sometimes longer +
compressed +
extended +
subtending +
scabridulous +
subequal +
0.17 cm1.7 mm <br />0.0017 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
membranous +
uncinate +
scabridulous +
lanceolate +  and ovate +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.26 cm2.6 mm <br />0.0026 m <br />) +
subcoriaceous +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
membranous +
inconspicuous +
lanceolate +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br />) +
concealed +  and prominent +
2 +  and 1 +
well-developed +
2-keeled +
0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br /> (0.17 cm1.7 mm <br />0.0017 m <br />) +
membranous +
1.2cm +  and 13.5cm +
spikelike +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
capillary +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (1.13 cm11.3 mm <br />0.0113 m <br />) +
thickening +
dry +  and fleshy +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (7.3 cm73 mm <br />0.073 m <br />) +
not prolonged +
scabridulous +
Introduced +
purplish +  and reddish-purple-tinged +
1 +  and 60 +
compressed +
0.17 cm1.7 mm <br />0.0017 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
simple +  and compound +
2 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
Aira elegantissima +  and Aira elegans +
Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris +
Aira caryophyllea +
variety +
membranous +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
0.17 cm1.7 mm <br />0.0017 m <br /> (0.21 cm2.1 mm <br />0.0021 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br />) +
parallel +  and converging +
stoloniferous +  and rhizomatous +
aquatic +  and terrestrial +