Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Deschampsia P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 91 (1812)
Vernacular Name(s):
Hair-grass
 Description

Perennials, usually caespitose; branching intravaginal. Leaves flat, involute or setaceous. Ligule membranous, acute or obtuse. Inflorescence a lax or contracted panicle. Spikelets rather small, membranous, laterally compressed, pedicelled, 2- or sometimes 3-flowered, chasmogamous or cleistogamous; disarticulation above glumes; rachilla prolonged. Glumes subequal, ≤ florets, 1–3-nerved. Lemma rounded, truncate, irregularly toothed at apex, obscurely 5-nerved; awn dorsal or subapical, or 0. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2. Stamens 3, sometimes 1–2. Caryopsis oblong; embryo small; hilum punctiform or shortly elliptic; endosperm solid.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Deschampsia P.Beauv.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)4
Indigenous (Non-endemic)1
Exotic: Fully Naturalised1
Total6
 Bibliography
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Palisot de Beauvois, A.M.F.J. 1812: Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie. Paris.