Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Puccinellia Parl., Fl. Ital. (Parlatore) 1, 366 (1850), nom. cons.
Synonymy:
  • = Poa sect. Atropis Trin.
  • ≡ Atropis (Trin.) Griseb. nom. illeg., nom. superfl.
Type Taxon:
Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl.
Vernacular Name(s):
salt grass; Saltmarsh grass
 Description

Perennials, biennials, or annuals. Leaf-sheath open. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat, folded, or involute. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle. Spikelets 2-several-flowered, pedicelled, laterally compressed or almost cylindric; disarticulation above glumes and between florets; rachilla prolonged, glabrous. Glumes usually unequal and < adjacent lemmas, obtuse or acute, rounded, awnless, herbaceous to membranous, margins hyaline; lower 1–(3)-nerved, upper 3–(5)-nerved. Lemma 5–(7)-nerved, rounded, usually oblong, obtuse or sometimes acute, awnless, often pubescent near base especially on nerves, or rarely completely glabrous; apex usually scarious or hyaline and ± erose. Palea ≈ lemma, keels scaberulous to ciliate, rarely slightly excurrent, apex shortly bifid. Callus glabrous. Lodicules 2, membranous, lanceolate, acute. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free. Caryopsis oblong; embryo small; hilum subbasal, punctiform or shortly elliptic. Chasmogamous or cleistogamous.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Puccinellia Parl.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)2
Indigenous (Non-endemic)1
Exotic: Fully Naturalised3
Total6
 Bibliography
Edgar, E. 1996: Puccinellia Parl. (Gramineae: Poeae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34: 17–32.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Parlatore, F. 1848-1850: Flora Italiana. Vol. 1. Tipografia Le Monnier, Florence.