Puccinellia nudiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Butt sheaths withering. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 7–15 cm long; 2 -noded; with 0.25 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths loose; open for most of their length; longer than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 1–6 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 3–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5 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 ovate; 1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Poeae. Hackel 1995.

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