Cortaderia jubata (Lemoine) Stapf
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Danthonieae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
none
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
purple pampasgrass, jubatagrass
Primary Disseminule Type
floret
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, pedicelled, consisting of 3–5 fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 12–15 mm long. Disarticulation below each fertile floret. Plants are pistillate only and produce fruit asexually (apomixis).
Glumes similar, lanceolate, shorter than spikelet, hyaline, shiny, 8–10 mm long, 1-veined, without keel, surfaces asperulous, margins ciliate, apices acute, entire or bifid.
Fertile florets (only females occur): rachilla persistent, 0.25 mm long, callus elongated (to 1.5 mm long) and typically curved, but may be shorter due to breakage, pilose (hairs to 2 mm long). Stigmas usually not exserted.
Lemma lanceolate to linear, 9–12 mm long, hyaline, shiny, purplish in some areas including veins, without keel, 3-veined, veins ribbed, midvein extending to apex but lateral veins noticeably shorter, surface scaberulous, villous with hairs to 8 mm long, apex setaceously attenuate, usually to an awn, awn to 1 mm long.
Palea to 4 mm long, hyaline, purplish in some areas including keels, keels and apex ciliate, inter-keel and flanks scabrid.
Caryopsis elliptic, trigonous, to 2.5 mm long x 0.5 mm wide, brown, apex tipped with 2 stylar remnants, embryo to 1 mm long, hilum linear, ca. 1 mm long, in shallow groove.
Similar Species
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI