Puccinellia diffusa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 0.8–1.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–20 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous; rough distally.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 2–2.3 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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