Puccinellia ladyginii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths withering. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–32 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat; 1–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2 -nate. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–1.9 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.9–2.6 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.6–3.4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3–2 mm long.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Tsvelev 2001.

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