Puccinellia vassica

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms 41–54 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–5 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 12–21 cm long; 0.8–2.5 mm wide.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 15–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–15 -nate; 1–7 cm long; bearing 20–75 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6.5–10.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 1.9–2.8 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.1–4 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.1–4.5 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. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 2.9–3.4 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long; pallid.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Poeae. Williams 2009.

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