Puccinellia biflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 10–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 0.3–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 3–4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–2 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned in the middle. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.7–2.3 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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