Glyceria elata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.7–1.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; acute. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.8 mm long; 0.5–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex erose; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 2; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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