Glyceria septentrionalis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 100–180 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; equilateral, or nodding; 18–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; simple; 3–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 8–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2–5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 2.5–5.5 mm long; 0.7–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–5 mm long; membranous; light green; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Meliceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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