Puccinellia choresmica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or elliptic; 10 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned all along. 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: eastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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