Puccinellia iberica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; nodding; 16–24 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2–3 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. Walley-Dodd 2002.

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