Puccinellia pusilla

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 3–12 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6–1.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 0.6 mm wide.

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

Panicle open; ovate; 1–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–3 -nate. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 2–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.4 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.9 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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