Puccinellia vahliana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 6–12 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long; erose; acute. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; yellowish green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2 -nate. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 6–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea 3–3.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; ciliate; adorned with hairs below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern and eastern. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Sorenson 1995.

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