Key to Puccinellia

View taxon page for Puccinellia

(For a list of species in Puccinellia, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Annual; remains of previous year's growth not present

2. Lowest 

lemma 

In Poaceae, the lower, generally larger of two sheathing bracts subtending a flower, generally ensheathing the palea (in a sterile lemma, the associated flower and sometimes palea are rudimentary or absent); with the palea and flower, comprising the floret.

1.8–2.2 mm; lemma tip 

obtuse 

Having a short-tapered, blunt tip or base, the sides convex or straight and converging at more than a right angle.

to 

truncate 

Abruptly (not gradually) narrower or smaller at base or tip, as if cut straight across or nearly so.

..... P. parishii

2' Lowest lemma 2.5–4 mm; lemma tip 

acute 

Having a short-tapered, sharp tip, the sides convex or straight and converging at less than a right angle.

..... P. simplex

1' Perennial herb; previous year's leaves persistent

3. Spikelet stalk glabrous to sparsely scabrous

4. Lemma margin near tip 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

or sparsely finely scabrous at 10×; anthers of lowest floret 0.5–1.2 mm; coastal habitats, NCo ..... P. pumila

4' Lemma margin near tip scabrous-serrate at 10×; anthers of lowest floret 0.4–2 mm; coastal and inland habitats

5. Anthers of lowest floret 1.5–2 mm; inland habitats, KR (Shasta Co.) ..... P. howellii

5' Anthers of lowest floret 0.5–1.4 mm; coastal habitats, NCo ..... P. nutkaensis (2)

3' Spikelet stalk uniformly scabrous

6. Lowest lemma 1.5–2(2.2) mm; lemma tip obtuse to truncate; lower inflorescence branches 

spreading 

Oriented more or less perpendicularly to the axis of attachment; often, more or less horizontal.

to 

reflexed 

Abruptly bent or curved downward or backward.

in fruit; anthers of lowest floret 0.4–0.8 mm ..... P. distans

6' Lowest lemma 2–5 mm; lemma tip acute or 

acuminate 

Having a long-tapered, sharp tip, the sides concave.

to obtuse; lower inflorescence branches 

erect 

Upright; vertically oriented.

to reflexed in fruit; anthers of lowest floret 0.5–2 mm

7. Cauline 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 

blade 

Expanded portion of a leaf, petal, or other structure, generally flat but sometimes rolled, cylindric, wavy, or cupped.

inrolled, 1–2 mm wide when flat; lemma tip acute, margin near tip generally entire, sometimes sparsely finely scabrous or scabrous-serrate at 10×; anthers of lowest floret 1–2 mm ..... P. lemmonii

7' Cauline leaf blade flat to inrolled, 1–6 mm wide when flat; lemma tip acute to obtuse, margin near tip scabrous-serrate at 10×; anthers of lowest floret 0.5–2 mm

8. Cauline leaf blade 1.5–6 mm when flat; lowest lemma (2.2)3–4.5(5) mm; coastal habitats, NCo ..... P. nutkaensis (2)

8' Cauline leaf blade 1–4 mm when flat; lowest lemma (2)2.2–3(3.5) mm; generally inland habitats, occasionally coastal ..... P. nuttalliana

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