Puccinellia banksiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–20 cm long; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 4–8 cm long; 0.7–1.2 mm wide; 0.5–1.2 cm long at summit of culm.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.6–4 cm long. Panicle axis with lower internodes 0.5–2.6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4(–5) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.2–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–1.5 mm long. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.8 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.3–2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume margins scaberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.7–2.3(–2.7) mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse, or acute. Palea 1.5–2.3 mm long; 0.9–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous (above); ciliate; adorned below; with 0.5 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Consaul 2009.

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