Dactylis glomerata L.
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Poeae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Bromus glomeratus (L.) Scop., Festuca glomerata (L.) All.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
orchardgrass
Primary Disseminule Type
floret or attached floret group
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, almost sessile, consisting of 2–5 fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 5–9 mm long, light green or purplish, stiff. Disarticulation typically below each fertile floret.
Glumes persistent, dissimilar, shorter than spikelet, thinner than fertile lemma, ovate-lanceolate, membranous, strongly keeled, primary vein ciliate, apices acute. Lower glume 3–5 mm long, 0.75 length of upper glume, 1-veined. Upper glume 4–6 mm long, 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma, 3-veined.
Fertile florets: rachilla persistent, callus blunt, glabrous.
Lemma lanceolate, trigonous, 4–7(8) mm long, herbaceous, margins hyaline, surface scaberulous, sparsely pubescent or glabrous, keeled, 5-veined, midvein pectinately ciliate, lateral veins obscure until they converge above, extending close to apex, apex acuminate, awn 0.2–1.5 mm long.
Palea slightly shorter than lemma, 2-veined, veins keeled, scabrous, apex bifid.
Caryopsis elliptic or lanceolate to oblong, trigonous, 1–3.2 mm long x 0.5–1 mm wide, brown, relatively soft, embryo <0.33 length of caryopsis, darker near base, hilum oval, in deep longitudinal groove.
Similar Species
Similar Species Comparison Chart
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