Spartina anglica

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; fleshy. Culms erect; 30–130 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; 10–45 cm long; 6–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–12; digitate, or borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 10–25 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; smooth on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 20–50 mm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 14–21 mm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–21 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 3–6 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 14–21 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 8–13 mm long; dehiscent by a longitudinal slit. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; linear. Embryo 1 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, and southwestern. Asia-temperate: western Asia and China. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Cynodonteae. CEH.

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