Puccinellia angustata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 6–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 3–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scaberulous; rough distally.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.8–3.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; ciliate; adorned with hairs below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Sorenson 1995.

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