Puccinellia candida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; (10–)15–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 10–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–2.5 mm long; 0.4–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; (1.75–)2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.75 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Poeae. Enu. & Gnu. 2011.

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