Puccinellia macranthera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 4–5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.3–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; stopping well short of apex. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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