Puccinellia macquariensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 4–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; longer than adjacent culm internode; wider than blade at the collar; without keel; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1.5 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 1.5–6 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches angular; smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.7–1.2 mm long. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.6–2.6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; light green; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy at base. Lemma apex entire; obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; ciliate; adorned in the middle. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.9 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5–1.7 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Poeae. Edgar 1995.

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