Coleanthus subtilis

(Tratt.) Seidl
Common names: Moss grass Mud grass
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 618.
Please click on the illustration for a higher resolution version.
Illustrator: Sandy Long

Copyright: Utah State University

Plants annual. Culms ascending or decumbent. Sheaths strongly inflated, uppermost sheath enclosing the base of the panicles; ligules 1-1.5 mm; blades 1-2 cm long, 0.5-1.5 mm wide. Panicles 1-5 cm, with 3-6 verticils. Lemmas 0.75-1.5 mm, ciliate on the keels, awnlike apices about equaling the lower portion; paleas about 0.5 mm, keels slightly prolonged; anthers about 0.3 mm. Caryopses about 1 mm. 2n = 14.

Discussion

Coleanthus subtilis is an ephemeral pioneer species of wet, open habitats. It grows on wet, muddy to sandy, calcium-deficient soils on the shores of lakes, sandbars, and islands. In the Flora region, it is known from the Columbia River, and around Hatzic, Arrow and Shuswap lakes in British Columbia. It also grows in Europe, Russia, and China. Throughout its range, C. subtilis is known from relatively few, scattered locations. It is easily overlooked because of its diminutive size, and because it flowers in early spring or late fall. It is not clear whether it is native or introduced in the Flora region.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"decumbent" is not a number.

... more about "Coleanthus subtilis"
membranous +  and scarious +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
awnlike +
Sandy Long +
(Tratt.) Seidl +
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 /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
not evident +
cross +, linear +  and narrowly lanceolate +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
verticillate +  and distant +
spikelike +
Moss grass +  and Mud grass +
not branching +
decumbent +  and ascending +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
not woody +
Oreg. +, Wash. +  and B.C. +
1/4 +  and 1/3 +
liquid +, soft +  and hard +
capillary +
pistillate +  and staminate +
sometimes longer +
sterile +  and bisexual +
compressed +
reduced +
shorter or longer +
subtending +
unequal +
uncinate +
narrowed +  and awnlike +
0.075 cm0.75 mm <br />7.5e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
membranous +
inconspicuous +
lanceolate +
concealed +  and prominent +
2 +  and 1 +
well-developed +
2-keeled +  and 2-4-toothed +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
spikelike +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
dry +  and fleshy +
not prolonged +
inflated +
1 +  and 60 +
compressed +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
simple +  and compound +
2 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
Gramineae +
Coleanthus subtilis +
Coleanthus +
species +
membranous +
parallel +  and converging +
stoloniferous +  and rhizomatous +
aquatic +  and terrestrial +