Puccinellia glaucescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

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

Panicle open; linear; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.8 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.8–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on back, or on veins. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.8–2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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