Puccinellia nuttalliana
Puccinellia vaginata
Nuttall alkaligrass, Nuttall's alkali grass
puccinellie engainée, sheath alkali grass
10-100 cm, usually erect.
(6)9-20 (35) cm, erect or decumbent.
either concentrated at the base or distributed along the culms;
ligules 1-3 mm, obtuse, usually entire, sometimes slightly erose;
blades 1-4 mm wide, flat to involute.
basally concentrated on small plants, distributed along the culms in larger plants;
ligules 1-3 mm, acute, obtuse, or truncate, entire;
blades 1-2 mm wide when flat, 0.5-1.6 mm in diameter when involute.
5-30 cm, compact to diffuse at maturity, usually distinctly exserted from the sheaths, lower branches usually erect to diverging, occasionally descending, spikelet-bearing from the base or on the distal 2/3;
pedicels scabrous, lacking tumid epidermal cells.
(3)6-12(14) cm, diffuse or contracted and usually barely exserted from the sheaths at maturity, lower branches ascending to horizontal, spikelets usually confined to the distal 2/3;
pedicels slightly scabrous, epidermal cells tumid.
3.5-9 mm, with 2-7 florets.
4-8 mm, with (2)4-5(6) florets.
rounded over the back, veins obscure, apices acute to obtuse;
lower glumes 0.5-1.5 mm, usually less than 1/2 as long as the adjacent lemmas;
upper glumes 1-2.8 mm;
rachilla internodes slightly and gradually broadened to the point of attachment with the lemmas;
calluses with a few hairs;
lemmas (2)2.2-3(3.5) mm, herbaceous, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the proximal 1/2, principally along the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, smooth distally, lateral margins inrolled or not, apical margins uniformly and densely scabrous, apices acute to obtuse, entire;
palea veins glabrous, short-ciliate, or with a few long hairs proximally, smooth or scabrous distally;
anthers 0.6-2 mm.
rounded over the back, veins distinct or obscure, margins not inrolled, apices broadly acute or obtuse;
lower glumes 1.3-2.1 mm;
upper glumes 1.3-2.6(3.4) mm;
calluses with a few hairs;
lemmas 2.8-4 mm, herbaceous, thin, often translucent, bases hairy, particularly on the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, lateral margins usually not inrolled, apical margins uniformly and densely scabrous, apices broadly acute or obtuse, entire or slightly erose;
palea veins glabrous proximally, scabrous distally;
anthers 0.7-1.1(1.2) mm.
= 28, 42, 56.
= 56.
Puccinellia nuttalliana
Puccinellia vaginata
Puccinellia nuttalliana is a widespread and variable species, restricted to the Flora region. It grows principally in the interior, but is also found in coastal settings, where it is difficult to distinguish from P. nutkaensis. Northern, primarily boreal or southern arctic populations with relatively short lemmas and anthers (2-2.8 mm and 0.6-0.9 mm, respectively), and with a few long hairs on the lower palea veins, have sometimes been recognized as P. borealis Swallen.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Puccinellia vaginata is a widespread North American arctic species. It is locally common in Greenland to about 78° N latitude; it is uncommon in Canada, where it is found primarily in the low arctic, rarely in the high arctic. One specimen is reported from eastern Siberia. It grows on coastal marine sediments and on eroding, raised marine sediments inland, and forms large tussocks near bird cliffs.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
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MN Wildflowers, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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