Glyceria acutiflora

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2–3 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; hyaline; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough generally. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.2 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.3–1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 3.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Gr Indiana 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.