Puccinellia leiolepis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent, or prostrate; 10–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; without keel; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–4 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute; hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Xizang 1996.

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