Avenula pubescens

(Huds.) Dumort.
Common names: Downy alpine oatgrass
Synonyms: Avena pubescens
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 698.

Plants shortly stoloniferous. Culms 30-110 cm, erect or geniculate at the base. Basal leaves: sheaths closed to near the top; ligules 0.5-1 mm, truncate; blades 10-40 cm long, 2-6 (8.5) mm wide, usually with hairs to 2 mm. Cauline leaves: sheaths closed for nearly their entire length, pubescent; ligules 5-8 mm, acute; blades 10-40 cm long, 2-6 mm wide, usually pubescent, margins very narrowly cartilaginous. Panicles 6-20 cm long, 2-6 cm wide, erect or nodding; branches 4-35 mm, flexuous or straight, with 1-4 spikelets. Spikelets 10-26 mm, with 2-4 florets; rachilla internodes about 2.5 mm, hairs 3-7 mm. Glumes scabrous on the veins. Lower glumes 7-20 mm, 1 (3) -veined; upper glumes 10-26 mm, 3-veined; calluses bearded, hairs 2-5 mm; lemmas 8-16 mm, awned, awns 12-26 mm, terete below the bend; paleas 8-12 mm; anthers 5-7 mm. 2n = 14, 28.

Distribution

N.J., Minn., Mass., Del., Vt., Alta., Man., Ont., Que., Sask., Conn.

Discussion

Avenula pubescens is native to Eurasia, where it grows in meadows, pastures, and woodland clearings. The most widespread taxon in Avenula pubescens (Huds.) Dumort. subsp. pubescens, which differs from Avenula pubescens subsp. laevigata (Schur) Holub) in having smaller spikelets (10-17 mm long with 2-3 florets versus 15-26 mm long with 3-4 florets). Avenula pubescens subsp. pubescens has been collected in southern Ontario, Anticosti Island in Quebec, and in New England, but is not known to be established in Canada.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"decumbent" is not a number.

... more about "Avenula pubescens"
membranous +  and scarious +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
Gordon C. Tucker +
(Huds.) Dumort. +
1 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
straight +
basal +  and terminal +
terete +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.6 cm26 mm <br />0.026 m <br />) +
keeled +  and rounded +
pseudopetiolate +  and branching +
intravaginal +, extravaginal +, branching +  and basal +
swelling +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
not evident +
folded +  and flat +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
straight +  and flexuous +
spikelike +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
Downy alpine oatgrass +
not branching +
geniculate +
30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br /> (110 cm1,100 mm <br />1.1 m <br />) +
not woody +
N.J. +, Minn. +, Mass. +, Del. +, Vt. +, Alta. +, Man. +, Ont. +, Que. +, Sask. +  and Conn. +
1/4 +  and 1/3 +
semiliquid +  and liquid +
capillary +
pistillate +  and staminate +
sometimes longer +
2 +  and 4 +
sterile +  and bisexual +
compressed +
reduced +
shorter or longer +
subtending +
unequal +
uncinate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
membranous +
inconspicuous +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
sclerenchymatous +
concealed +  and prominent +
2 +  and 1 +
hairy +  and glabrous +
well-developed +
2-keeled +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
6cm +  and 20cm +
nodding +  and erect +
spikelike +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
dry +  and fleshy +
hairy +  and glabrous +
compressed +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.6 cm26 mm <br />0.026 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
simple +  and compound +
2 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
Avena pubescens +
Avenula pubescens +
species +
membranous +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.6 cm26 mm <br />0.026 m <br />) +
parallel +  and converging +
aquatic +  and terrestrial +