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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Glyceria occidentalis
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 60–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 7–12 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface, or pubescent on abaxial surface; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; elliptic; 20–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes straight, or curved; 1.5 mm long.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5 mm long; membranous; mid-green and purple; tipped with last colour; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scabrous. 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 3; 1.4–1.6 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, and southwest USA.
NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1994.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.