Glyceria lithuanica

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Stolons present. Culms erect; 70–110 cm long; 2–4 mm diam.; 4–6 -noded. Culm-internodes 5–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute, or acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 15–25 cm long; 7–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate; 10–14 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma flabellate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Caucasus, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Meliceae. Koyama 1994.

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