Puccinellia parishii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 3–10 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 1–4 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex erose; truncate, or obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 0.6 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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