Puccinellia qinghaica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 3–11 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 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.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1.2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or obovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base; hairy on veins. Lemma apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.1–1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Tsvelev 2004.

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