Puccinellia angusta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glossy. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; 1 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths 6–25 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.25 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate, or orbicular; 2–2.8 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Poeae. CEH.

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