Puccinellia strictura

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 3–10 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–3 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–5 cm long; 0.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 2 cm long; bearing 4–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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