Glyceria occidentalis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 60–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 7–12 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface, or pubescent on abaxial surface; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes straight, or curved; 1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5 mm long; membranous; mid-green and purple; tipped with last colour; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.4–1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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