Puccinellia Parl.
Type species: P. distans (L.) Parl.
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.
Key
c. 80 species of temperate regions throughout the world, but principally in Asia; usually in coastal salt marshes, or inland on saline or alkaline soils. Endemic spp. 3, indigenous spp. 1 shared with Australia; naturalised spp. 3.
The N.Z. spp. were revised by Edgar, E. N.Z. J. Bot. 34: 17-32 (1996), and earlier by Allan, H. H. and Jansen, P. T.R.S.N.Z. 69: 265-269 (1939).
