Puccinellia chinampoensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute; 3–7 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–5 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 1.8–2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; mid-green and light brown; suffused with last colour; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; ciliolate; adorned with hairs below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Ohwi 1996.

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