DACTYLISL.ORCHARD GRASS

DACTYLISL. - ORCHARD GRASS

Scientific Description:

Perennial. Ligule membranous. Leaf blades flat or involute. Inflorescence an effuse or narrowly oblong panicle (sometimes reduced to an ovoid head); branches of panicle well developed or suppressed, erect to patent. Spikelets crowded in dense fascicles, pedicellate, laterally compressed, with 2−5 hermaphrodite florets. Rachilla disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes unequal to subequal, narrow, keeled, somewhat curved, lower 1-veined, upper 5-veined. Lemma chartaceous to coriaceous, 5-veined, keeled, mucronate or shortly awned at attenuate or emarginate apex. Palea 2-keeled, c. as long as lemma. Lodicules 2, 2-lobed at apex. Stamens 3. Caryopsis loosely enclosed by lemma and palea, ellipsoid to lanceolate-ellipsoid; embryo c. 1/6 × caryopsis; hilum a minute suprabasal dot.

Reference:

Mill RR (1985). Dactylis L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 9: 510.

Public Description:

Dactylis is a genus of perennial herbs, commonly known as “cock’s foot”, “cocksfoot grasses” or “orchard grass” and is native to Eurasia and North Africa. There are 2 species in the world and 1 species (2 taxa) in Türkiye. Orchard grasses are among the ideal daily feeds for livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, horses and other animals. It is a good choice for grazing animals, easy to digest and grow. They grow in bunches and are quick to establish itself in most locations, and are best-suited as a cool season grass.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactylis/,Accessed date: 15.03.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.heirloom-organics.com/guide/va/guidetogrowingorchardgrass.html / ,Accessed date: 15.03.2016.

Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Poaceae/Dactylis/ Accessed date: 15.03.2016.

Cabi E, Doğan M (2012). Dactylis L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 711–712.