Puccinellia pumila is a species of grass known by the common names dwarf akaligrass[1] and smooth alkali grass. It is native to North America where it grows along the coastline in the northern latitudes, from Alaska across Arctic northern Canada to Greenland. It occurs on the coast of the Pacific Northwest in the United States and it is known from the Kamchatka Peninsula. The grass is only found on the coast, in wetland habitat, beaches, and areas inundated by the highest tides, in saline sand and mud.[2] This perennial grass grows decumbent or erect to a maximum height near 40 centimeters, often remaining much smaller, especially in harsh habitat. It may root at stem nodes which become buried in wet substrate. The inflorescence is a dense or open array of branches bearing spikelets.
| Puccinellia pumila | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Puccinellia |
| Species: | P. pumila
|
| Binomial name | |
| Puccinellia pumila | |
Conservation status in the United States
editIt is listed as special concern and believed extirpated in Connecticut.[3] and as historical in Rhode Island.[4]
References
edit- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Puccinellia pumila". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ Poaceae of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
- ^ "Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015". State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 January 2018. (Note: This list is newer than the one used by plants.usda.gov and is more up-to-date.)
- ^ "Plants Profile for Puccinellia pumila (dwarf alkaligrass)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
External links
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