Puccinellia macropus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 40–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 1.9–2 mm wide; stiff; grey-green.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 2–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 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 linear; 2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple and yellow; bordered with last colour; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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