Puccinellia iliensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms (5–)10–25(–30) cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–6 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–4 -nate; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4(–5) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.4–1.6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2007.

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