Puccinellia distans
Puccinellia bruggemannii
European alkali grass, puccinellie a fleurs distantes, spreading alkali grass, weeping alkaligrass
Bruggemann's alkali grass, Prince patrick alkaligrass
5-60 cm, erect to decumbent.
5-12 cm, erect to decumbent.
2.5-20 cm, diffuse at maturity, lower branches horizontal to descending, spikelets usually confined to the distal 2/3, pedicels scabrous, lacking tumid epidermal cells.
1-4 cm, contracted at maturity, lowest node with 2(3) branches, lower branches erect to ascending, spikelets usually confined to the distal 1/3, pedicels scabrous, lacking tumid epidermal cells.
2.5-7 mm, with 2-7 florets.
3.5-6.5 mm, with 2-4 florets.
rounded over the back, veins obscure, apices acute to truncate;
lower glumes 0.4-1.3 mm;
upper glumes 0.9-1.8 mm;
calluses with a few hairs;
lemmas 1.5-2(2.2) mm, mostly herbaceous, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the lower 1/2, principally along the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, apical margins hyaline and often yellowish, uniformly and densely scabrous, apices widely obtuse to truncate, entire;
palea veins shortly ciliate proximally, glabrous, sometimes scabrous distally;
anthers 0.4-0.8 mm.
rounded over the back, veins obscure, apices acute to obtuse;
lower glumes 0.7-2 mm, less than (1/2)2/3 as long as the adjacent lemmas;
upper glumes 1.5-2.8 mm, broadly elliptic;
rachilla internodes slightly and gradually broadened to the point of attachment with the lemmas, at least the lowest internode usually more than 0.09 mm thick;
calluses with a few hairs;
lemmas 2.8-3.8 mm, herbaceous, hairy on the lower 1/2 along and between the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, apical margins herbaceous, scabrous or scabridulous, apices acute or somewhat obtuse, entire or erose, slightly incurved;
palea veins with curly, intertwined hairs proximally, scabrous distally;
anthers 0.7-1.1 mm.
0.8-1.2 mm, obtuse to truncate, usually entire;
blades 1-7 mm wide, flat to involute.
0.8-2 mm, acute or obtuse, entire;
blades usually involute and 0.5-1.1 mm in diameter, sometimes flat and 0.7-2.5 mm wide.
= 14, 28, 42.
= 28.
Puccinellia distans
Puccinellia bruggemannii
Puccinellia distans is a Eurasian native, reportedly introduced in North America, where it is widespread, particularly as a weed in non-littoral environments, including the margins of salted roads. It is also found occasionally in coastal environments.
A specimen in the Smithsonian Institution attributed to Puccinellia tenuiflora (Griseb.) Scribn. & Merr. by Scribner and Merrill (1910) is a robust example of P. distans; others of this taxon in North America remain to be investigated. Puccinellia hauptiana (Trin. ex V.I. Krecz.) Kitag. has been reduced to P. distans subsp. hauptiana (Trin. ex V.I. Krecz.) W.E. Hughes. This taxon may represent a tetraploid component of P. distans; several specimens identified as P. hauptiana in Eurasia have a tetraploid chromosome count. Specimens from Alaska, the Yukon, and Saskatchewan, identified as P. hauptiana on the basis of their relatively narrow leaves (1-2 mm wide) and small anthers (0.5-0.6 mm), appear to be native in these regions and require further study with regard to their relationship with P. distans.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Puccinellia bruggemannii is restricted to arctic islands of Canada and northern Greenland. In Canada, it is a widespread yet local northern, western, and central arctic island species. It is found in calcareous, barren, gravelly, sandy, or silty sites, and is sometimes coastal. Although P. bruggemannii has been reported as non-littoral (Porsild 1964) and probably non-halophilous (Sarensen 1955), specimens keying to this species have been found near the sea coast: for example, paratype specimens collected on Beechey Island and in the vicinity of salt springs on Axel Heiberg Island.
Puccinellia bruggemannii sometimes superficially resembles Poa abbreviata or small Poa glauca in the field, because of its small, dense inflorescence.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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