Puccinellia decumbens

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped densely. Stolons absent, or present. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7–13 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths tight. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.2–2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1–2 cm long; 0.2–0.7 mm wide.

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

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1.3–1.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.7–1.9 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein extending to apex. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1.9–2.2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; adorned below; with 0.5 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long; pallid.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Australia 2010.

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