Puccinellia mendozina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; whorled at lower nodes. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–0.8 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.6–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2.4–2.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.6–1.8 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.