Puccinellia howellii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.7 mm long; entire, or erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 1.4–2.2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 7–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches smooth; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.9 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.7–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.4–3.3 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma margins scabrous (above). Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.5–2 mm long; green, or light brown. Embryo 0.25–0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Poeae. Davis 2005.

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