Arctagrostis latifolia

(R. Br.) Griseb.
Common names: Polargrass
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 678.

Rhizomes elongate or compact, 1.5-3 mm thick, with 8-35 mm scales, glabrous. Culms 10-150 cm tall, 1.2-7 mm thick. Ligules 2-7 (15) mm; blades 1-36 cm long, 1.5-15 mm wide. Panicles 2.5-35 (44) cm long, 0.7-10 (14+) cm wide, narrow and stiffly erect to spreading and diffuse; branches 0.5-14+ cm, with 3-140 spikelets. Spikelets 3-6.5 mm. Lower glumes 1.8-4.5 mm; upper glumes 2.3-5.5 mm; lemmas 2.4-6.5 mm; anthers 1.3-4 mm.

Distribution

Alta., B.C., Greenland, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Man., N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon, Alaska

Discussion

Arctagrostis latifolia grows in a wide range of habitats, from sea level to 2000 m, and exhibits considerable phenotypic plasticity. Infection by nematodes leads to the formation of enlarged dark purple ovaries. Such forms have been annotated as "forma prolifera" or "forma vivipara", but these names have no taxonomic validity.

Arctagrostis latifolia subsp. arundinacea, which grows in the low arctic of Alaska and northern Canada, is usually larger than subsp. latifolia, which grows on the islands of the arctic archipelago. The two subspecies are similar in their morphology in a narrow geographical zone, mainly because of phenotypic plasticity. Agronomic studies appear to have utilized only subsp. arundinacea.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Panicles (4)10-35(44) cm long; longest branches (1.4)3-27 cm long, with (5)50-140 spikelets per branch; secondary branches usually spreading; uppermost sheaths shorter than the blades; spikelets 3-5.2 mm long; glumes unequal, the upper glumes varying from shorter than to longer than the lemmas Arctagrostis latifolia subsp. arundinacea
1 Panicles 2.5-10(17) cm long; longest branches 0.5-4(6.5) cm long, with 3-15(40) spikelets per branch; secondary branches usually appressed, spreading in warmer habitats; uppermost sheaths usually longer than the blades; spikelets (3)4-6.5 mm long; glumes subequal, about 1 mm shorter than the lemmas Arctagrostis latifolia subsp. latifolia

"decumbent" is not a number.

... more about "Arctagrostis latifolia"
membranous +  and scarious +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
mucronate +, obtuse +  and acute +
Susan G. Aiken +
(R. Br.) Griseb. +
1 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
straight +
basal +  and terminal +
keeled +  and rounded +
pseudopetiolate +  and branching +
intravaginal +, extravaginal +, branching +  and basal +
swelling +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (36 cm360 mm <br />0.36 m <br />) +
not evident +
cross +, linear +  and narrowly lanceolate +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
scabridulous +
spikelike +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (14 cm140 mm <br />0.14 m <br />) +
Polargrass +
not branching +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (150 cm1,500 mm <br />1.5 m <br />) +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (150 cm1,500 mm <br />1.5 m <br />) +
not woody +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Greenland +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, Man. +, N.W.T. +, Nunavut +, Ont. +, Que. +, Yukon +  and Alaska +
1/4 +  and 1/3 +
liquid +, soft +  and hard +
capillary +
sometimes longer +
single +, 2 +  and 1 +
sterile +  and bisexual +
compressed +
reduced +
shorter or longer +
subtending +
unequal +
uncinate +
1/4 +  and 1/3 +
puberulent +  and scabrous +
lanceolate +  and ovate +
0.24 cm2.4 mm <br />0.0024 m <br /> (0.65 cm6.5 mm <br />0.0065 m <br />) +
lacerate +  and obtuse +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
membranous +
inconspicuous +
lanceolate +
0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br /> (0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br />) +
concealed +  and prominent +
2 +  and 1 +
well-developed +
2-keeled +
2.5cm +  and 35cm +
stiffly erect +  and spreading +
spikelike +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
dry +  and fleshy +
scabrous +  and hairy +
3 +  and 140 +
compressed +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.65 cm6.5 mm <br />0.0065 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
simple +  and compound +
2 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
Gramineae +
Arctagrostis latifolia +
Arctagrostis +
species +
membranous +
scabridulous +
acute +  and obtuse +
0.23 cm2.3 mm <br />0.0023 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
parallel +  and converging +
faint +  and prominent +
aquatic +  and terrestrial +