Puccinellia hackeliana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms decumbent; 15–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 1–3 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle open; linear, or elliptic; dense; 2–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. 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; compressed slightly; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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