Puccinellia groenlandica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–65 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–3 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; ciliate; adorned as to hairs below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.1–1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Circumpolar Fl 1994.

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