Puccinellia lemmonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms (10–)20–40(–50) cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; entire, or erose; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute; 4–8 cm long; 2–10 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; (3–)5–10(–13) cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas; sparsely hairy. Floret callus glabrous, or pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; 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. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.3–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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