Deschampsia is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass[6] or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.[7][8]

Deschampsia
Deschampsia flexuosa (left)
Deschampsia cespitosa (right)[4]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Aristaveninae
F.Albers & Butzin
Genus: Deschampsia
P.Beauv.[1]
Type species
Deschampsia cespitosa
(L.) P.Beauv.[2][3]
Synonyms[5]
  • Airidium Steud.
  • Avenella Bluff ex Drejer
  • Campelia Kunth. alternate spelling
  • Campella Link
  • Czerniaevia Ledeb.
  • Erioblastus Honda
  • Homoiachne Pilg.
  • Lerchenfeldia Schur
  • Monandraira Desv.
  • Podionapus Dulac

The genus is named for French physician and naturalist Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765–1842).[7][9]

Deschampsia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, including antler moth, the clay, clouded-bordered brindle, common wainscot, dark arches, dusky brocade, shoulder-striped wainscot, smoky wainscot and wall.

Deschampsia sometimes grow in boggy acidic formations, an example of which is the Portlethen Moss, Scotland. Deschampsia antarctica is the world's most southern monocot,[10][11] and one of only two flowering plants of Antarctica.[12][13]

Some species, such as D. cespitosa and D. flexuosa, are grown as ornamental garden plants.

Species

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Formerly included

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Deschampsia formerly included many species now placed in other genera, such as Aira, Antinoria, Bromus, Calamagrostis, Centropodia, Colpodium, Dissanthelium, Holcus, Periballia, Peyritschia, Poa, Trisetum and Vahlodea.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Genus: Deschampsia P. Beauv". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1999-03-09. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  2. ^ lectotype designated by Nash in N. L. Britton et A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N.U.S. ed. 2. 1: 215. 7 Jun (1913)
  3. ^ Tropicos, Deschampsia P.Beauv.
  4. ^ illustration circa 1920 from Bilder ur Nordens Flora by Carl Axel Magnus Lindman
  5. ^ a b c "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  6. ^ "Deschampsia". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  7. ^ a b Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie 91 descriptions in Latin, etymology explained in French
  8. ^ Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie, plate XVIII (18) figure III (3) line drawing of Deschampsia cespitosa
  9. ^ Jstor Deschamps, Louis Auguste (1765-1842)
  10. ^ Young, Mark C., ed. (1955). Guinness Book of World Records 1997. Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 42. ISBN 0-9652383-0-X.
  11. ^ Wali, Mohan K.; Evrendilek, Fatih; Fennessy, M. Siobhan (July 2009). The Environment: Science, Issues, and Solutions. CRC Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4200-0733-6. Retrieved 25 Sep 2016.
  12. ^ Smith, Ronald I.L.. 1984 Terrestrial plant biology of the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic. In: Laws, R.M., (ed.) Antarctic Ecology, vol. 1. London, Academic Press, 61-162.
  13. ^ Holderegger, Rolf; Stehlik, Ivana; Lewis Smith, Ronald I.; Abbott, Richard J. (May 2003). "Populations of Antarctic Hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica) Show Low Genetic Diversity". Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 35 (2): 214–217. doi:10.1657/1523-0430(2003)035[0214:POAHDA]2.0.CO;2.