Koeleria asiatica Poaceae - University of Alaska...
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Global Distribution: North Asia from Ural Mountains through Chukotka Peninsula to Alaska and Yukon. Alaska Distribution: Arctic Tundra, Bering Tundra, Bering Taiga. Ecoregions Occupied: Beaufort Coastal Plain, Brooks Foothills, Bering Sea Islands, Nulato Hills. Conservation Status: S3 G4; BLM Sensitive. Description 24, 25, 117 Culms densely and finely pubescent Lemmas pubescent or tomentose without awn or with awn up to 1.4 mm long Tufted from short to long rhizomes Panicles dense, 1 to 4 cm long Poaceae Illustration by Linda Ann Vorobik, courtesy of Intermountain Herbarium 2 cm Glumes ciliate on the margins and keel Koeleria asiatica Domin 1 mm 1 mm 151
Transcript of Koeleria asiatica Poaceae - University of Alaska...
Global Distribution: North Asia from Ural Mountains through Chukotka
Peninsula to Alaska and Yukon.
Alaska Distribution: Arctic Tundra, Bering Tundra, Bering Taiga.
Ecoregions Occupied: Beaufort Coastal Plain, Brooks Foothills, Bering Sea Islands, Nulato Hills.
Conservation Status: S3 G4; BLM Sensitive.
Description24, 25, 117
Culms densely and finely pubescent
Lemmas pubescent or tomentose without awn or with awn up to 1.4 mm long
Tufted from short to long rhizomes
Panicles dense, 1 to 4 cm long
Poaceae
Illustration by Linda Ann Vorobik, courtesy of Intermountain Herbarium
2 cm
Glumes ciliate on the margins and keel
Koeleria asiatica Domin
1 mm
1 mm
151
Koeleria asiatica
General: Perennial grass, tufted from short to long rhizomes; culms 5 to 35 cm tall, densely and finely pubescent.
Leaves: Basal sheaths persistent; ligules 0.5 to 2.5 mm long; basal leaves 2 to 20 cm long, 1 to 3 mm wide with margins rolled inwards; upper surfaces pubescent; culm leaves short.
Inflorescences: Panicles dense, 1 to 4 cm long, 0.7 to 1.5 cm wide, sometimes interrupted at the base; branches villous.
Spikelets: Spikelets 4 to 6.5 mm long with 2 to 3 florets; glumes membranous, purple or tan, scabrous, ciliate on upper margins and keel; lower glumes 2.5 to 3.5 mm long; upper glumes 3 to 4.8 mm long; lemmas 4 to 5 mm long, pubescent or tomentose, purple to black, sometimes with awns up to 1.4 mm long; anthers 1.2 to 2.5 mm long.
© Michael Oldham 2006
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Koeleria asiatica
Ecology Elevation: Known from near sea level to 600 m in Alaska.
Landform: River terraces, river bluffs, river banks, river bars, sand dunes, tundra, alpine slopes, lake shores.
Soil Type: Sand, gravel, shale or sandstone scree; sometimes occurring on calcareous or ultramafic substrates.
Moisture regime: Usually dry, less commonly moist.
Slope: Flat to moderately sloped.
Aspect: No particular aspect.
Vegetation type: Tussock tundra, sparsely vegetated.118
Associated species: Artemisia borealis, Potentilla uniflora, Eritrichium aretioides var. chamissonis.
Longevity: Perennial; longevity difficult to estimate from specimens.63
Population estimate: There are 22 known occurrences in Alaska; populations range from scattered individuals to locally common.
Reproductive biology: Wind-pollinated.63
Herbivory: Musk ox and caribou graze Koeleria asiatica.119
Similar Species24, 25, 117 Koeleria asiatica is superficially similar to Trisetum spicatum, which occurs throughout the entire range of Koeleria asiatica in Alaska. The table below describes the differences in morphology that distinguish between the two species. Koeleria macrantha is also known in Alaska but only from the Tanana-Kuskokwim lowlands.
Species Culms Lemmas Lemma Awns Anthers
Koeleria asiatica
Densely and finely pubescent
Apexes acute, entire
Awns absent or arising from the apex, straight, up to 1.4 mm long
1.2 to 2.5 mm long
Trisetum spicatum
Sometimes glabrous, sometimes scabrous, sometimes villous
Apexes divided at the tip
Awns arising from upper third of lemma, curved or bent, 3 to 8 mm long
0.9 to 1.4 mm long
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Koeleria asiatica
ALA 141242
© Michael Oldham 2006
2 cm
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