Puccinellia wrightii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 3–5 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 4–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2 -nate; 3–4 cm long. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Scribn & Merr 1995.

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