Puccinellia florida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 3–6 cm long; 1.2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

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

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 8–12 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.2 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; mid-green and purple; suffused with last colour; without keel; rounded except near apex; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth; ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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