Puccinellia nuttalliana (Schult.). Nuttall Alkaligrass Habit: Tufted perennials with rhizomes. Culms: 30-100 cm. high, erect, strict, slender. Blades: 5-10 cm. long, 3 mm. wide or less, usually involute or the upper flat. Inflorescence: Panicle open, mostly 10-20 cm. long, with spreading or ascending scabrous branches up to 10 cm. long, pedicels scabrous. Spikelets: Terete or slightly compressed, scattered, 3-6 flowered, 4-7 mm. long; the rachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets, often exposed, flowers perfect. Glumes: 2, unequal, the first acute, 1.5 mm. long, 1-nerved, the second obtuse or acute, 2 mm. long, 3-nerved. Lemmas: Firm, rounded on the back, 2-3 mm. long, obscurely 5-nerved, rather narrow, narrowed somewhat into an obtuse apex. Palea: Nearly equaling the lemma. Fruit: Grain usually adherent to the palea. Habitat: Moist usually alkaline or saline soil. June-August. Kansas Range: Southwest sixth. Synonyms: Puccinellia airoides (Nutt.) S. Wats. & Coult. Puccinellia cusickii Weatherby