Glyceria grandis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 90–160 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.9–1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–9 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 6–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–1.7 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.4–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–2.7 mm long; membranous; purple; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea apex erose. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers (2–)3; 0.5–0.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1993.

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