Deschampsia koelerioides Regel

This is a distinctive, high-altitude variant from the Deschampsia cespitosa complex, distinguished by its short, spikelike, purple-brown panicles.

A specimen collected in S Xizang (N of Kumaon, N India) has been assigned to Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. sikkimensis Noltie, which is otherwise known only from India (Sikkim). It is a small plant with compact panicles, close to D. koelerioides, but differing in its pyramidal panicle with the spikelets aggregated into fascicles.

A distinctive species found in damp alpine meadows from 3300 to 5300 m. Tzvelev regards it as only a subspecies of Deschampsia caespitosa but the differences seem adequate to maintain it at species level.

Perennial, forming small dense tussocks. Culms erect, 5–40 cm tall, 1–1.7 mm in diam., 1(or 2)-noded. Leaf sheaths loose, glabrous; leaf blades linear, flat or rolled, up to 20 cm, 1–3 mm wide, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface with coarse sharp ridges, smooth or scaberulous; ligule acuminate, up to 8 mm. Panicle densely contracted to spikelike, ovoid to oblong, 1–7 cm, brownish purple with golden sheen; branches very short, visible or not. Spikelets 4–6 mm, florets 2, rachilla internode ca. 1 mm; glumes subequal to spikelet, lower glume slightly shorter than or equaling upper glume, 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined, apex acute or obtuse, often lacerate; callus hairs ca. 1/3 lemma length; lemmas 3–4 mm, awned from or near lower 1/4, apex broadly 2-toothed, teeth irregularly lacerate; awn straight or slightly bent, equaling or slightly longer than lemma. Anthers 1.5–2.2 mm. Fl. Jul–Aug.

Caespitose perennial; culms erect, 10-40 cm high. Leaves mostly basal; blades mostly 2-20 cm long and 2-3 mm wide, flat or rolled, coarsely ridged above, scaberulous on the ridges, smooth beneath; ligule scarious, up to 8 mm long. Panicle oblong or ovoid, 2-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, contracted and often spikelike. Spikelets narrowly oblong, 4-5 mm long, 2-flowered, usually purple with a golden sheen; glumes acute or obtuse, often lacerate at the tip, the lower oblong, 3-3.6 mm long, the upper elliptic 3.6-2 mm long and 3-nerved; lemma elliptic-oblong, 3.3-4.3 mm long, 2-lobed, the lobes irregularly lacerate, awned from near the base (always within the lower third); awns mostly straight, capillary, 2.5-4 mm long, usually projecting beyond the glumes.

Gansu, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [E Afghanistan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan (Tarbagatai Mountains), Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, N Pakistan, Russia (S Siberia), Tajikistan (Pamirs), Uzbekistan].

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Afghanistan, Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-August.

Damp alpine meadows, wet places near rivers and stream banks; 3500–5100 m.

Deschampsia cespitosa (Linnaeus) P. Beauvois subsp. ko-elerioides (Regel) Tzvelev.