Puccinellia longior

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms 25–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.3–4.8 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 7.5–35 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8.5–29 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate; 1.1–12 cm long; bearing 8–137 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–2.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–3.3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.4–3.7 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein falling short of apex. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 2.3–3.4 mm long; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; adorned below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.1–1.7 mm long; pallid.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Poeae. Williams 2009.

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