Puccinellia distans* (Jacq.) Parl. Fl.
Ital. 1: 366 (1848).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Poa distans
Jacq., Observ. Bot. 1: 42 (1764).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Herb. Jacquin fil. s.n.,
Austria: crescit in fossis aquosis et locis humidis per Austriam (W). LT
designated by Cope in Cafferty et al., Taxon 49(2): 255 (2000).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia,
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(163), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(272).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (163, fig. 115).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or decumbent or prostrate, 10–60 cm tall, 2–4 -noded.
Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.9–2 mm long, truncate or
obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform or linear, involute, 2–10 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 3–20 cm long, 2–14 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets
pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets
(3–9), comprising 3–9 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed, 3–7 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume elliptic, 1.2–2 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–2.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex erose. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
and North America.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Tasmania.
South
Australia: Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. Tasmania:
Furneaux Group.
Notes.
Introduced. Europe, eastern Asia, NW Africa and North
America. In poorly drained saline areas in pastures. Flowers
Nov.-Jan. Fruits Jan.-?.
