Puccinellia parvula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 5–10 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–3 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long.

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

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Hitchc 1995.

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