Puccinellia pumila

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.5–2 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; 2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia. North America: Subarctic, northwest USA, and northeast USA.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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