Puccinellia kamtschatica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 12–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; longer than adjacent culm internode; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches with occasional prickles.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Swallen 1995.

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