Puccinellia nuttalliana
Puccinellia vahliana
Nuttall alkaligrass, Nuttall's alkali grass
puccinellie de Vahl, Vahl's alkali grass
10-100 cm, usually erect.
5-15 cm, erect.
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.
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.
2-4 cm, usually contracted and dense, sometimes slightly diffuse at maturity, lowest node usually with long and short branches, lower branches erect to ascending, spikelets usually confined to the distal 2/3;
pedicels glabrous and smooth, lacking tumid epidermal cells or with very small tumid epidermal cells.
3.5-9 mm, with 2-7 florets.
3.8-6.5 mm, with 2-4(5) 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.
broadly ovate, enfolding the bases of the lower lemmas, rounded over the back, veins obscure or distinct, apices acute to obtuse;
lower glumes 2-3.5 mm, at least 2/3 as long as the adjacent lemmas;
upper glumes 2.4-4 mm;
rachilla internodes abruptly broadened at the point of attachment to the lemmas, less than 0.09 mm thick;
calluses with a few hairs;
lemmas 3-5.2 mm, usually herbaceous and mostly purplish, sometimes membranous with purple veins, basal 1/2 hairy over and between the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure or distinct, often dark purple, not extending to the margins, apical margins hyaline, often yellowish, smooth, apices acute, entire, becoming erose with age;
palea veins with curly, intertwined hairs on the proximal portion, scabrous distally;
anthers 0.8-1.5 mm.
1-2.5 mm, acute to obtuse, entire;
blades 2-8 mm wide, flat or folded.
= 28, 42, 56.
= 14.
Puccinellia nuttalliana
Puccinellia vahliana
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 vahliana is an arctic species that is circumpolar, except in the Beringian region. In the Flora region, it extends from Alaska through northern Canada to Greenland. It is generally non-halophytic, growing in calcareous gravel, sand, clay, or moss of imperfectly drained moist areas, and on seepage slopes from near sea level to 700 m, or, rarely, in seasonally dry, turfy sites. It is often a pioneering species in moist clay and silt by alpine brooks, ephemeral lakes, glacial runoff streams, and on snowbeds. The roots of this species and P. wrightii are characteristically thicker and more tightly curled than those of other Puccinellia species. It sometimes hybridizes with Phippsia algida.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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OR, 
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