Spartina townsendii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; fleshy. Culms erect; 30–130 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; 6–30 cm long; 4–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–9; digitate, or borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 4–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; smooth on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 10–20 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 lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 12–18 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 0.6–0.7 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; 12–18 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 12–18 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 5–7.9 mm long; indehiscent. 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. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Cynodonteae. CEH.

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