Puccinellia magellanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–3.6 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; 15–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.5 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.4–4.6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 4–4.2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.8 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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