GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora




Dactylis glomerata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–140 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–45 cm long; 2–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; interrupted; secund; 2–30 cm long; gathered into fascicles.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; lanceolate in profile, or oblong in profile; 4–7 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pectinately ciliate. Lemma lateral veins convergent above; extending close to apex. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1.5 mm long overall. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.


