the new variety was noted in test plantings wherein approximately 100 , 000 seeds , seedlings and cuttings have been test planted under agricultural conditions on a total of 2 . 5 acres following over ten ( 10 ) years of study of salt - tolerant plants . the purpose of these large plantings was specifically to discover new varieties with crop potential and to learn their agronomic requirements . the new variety resulted from a bed seedling . wild plants of distichlis palmeri produce from near zero to four grams of grain per square meter . yensen 1a can produce well over ten grams of grain per square meter . the optimum yields with respect to fertilizer and water levels of yensen 1a are not known at this time . the new variety was first noted for its vigorous growth and ideal form and later for its high yield of grain on relatively short stalks . the stalks are erect and the grain heads are of a suitable height for combine harvest . the new variety is being reproduced via rhizomes in tucson , ariz ., where a number of other varieties are also being observed . parentage : a seedling from a harvested caryopses ( seeds ) of distichlis palmeri . the harvested caryopses from which the yensen 1a variety emerged were among literally millions of harvested caryopses which were then selected for size and weight . while approximately 100 , 000 caryopses have been so selected and test planted , the particular test planting from which yensen 1a emerged had approximately 3 , 000 caryopses . this test planting was in plot number 2 . . . of 9 test plots planted at tucson , ariz . these test plots were subjected to various stresses , e . g . water , temperature , salts , etc . such that only 0 . 1 % to 1 % of the caryopses reached maturity . the plants that survive this rigorous selection process are often phenotypically similar . this may be true in part due to similar genetic combinations that can survive the same rigorous selection process , and in part to the harvested caryopses being frequently derived from a few phenotypically similar parents . due to ( 1 ) the nature of the selection process wherein massive numbers of caryopses are utilized , and ( 2 ) the heavy selection pressures , it is not practical to follow individual caryopses and their lineages . propagation : to date all rhizomes , shoots , and tillers have held true to the distinguishing characteristics of the initial plants and it is expected that at least 90 % of the female plants from caryopses will be phenotypically similar to the distinguishing characteristics of the initial plants as they are described herein . culms : rigid , erect , occasionally branched , glabrous , 20 - 50 cm high depending on rhizome age at inflorescence , 2 - 3 mm in diameter . the color of yensen 1a is not significantly different from some other varieties . blades : firm , rigid , ascending , pointed and pungent , involute ( especially upon drying ), distichous , glabrous to slightly puberulent , 3 - 5 mm basal width , 20 - 30 veins at base , typically 30 - 80 mm in length . sheath : glabrous to slightly puberulent , with a tuft of wooly hairs at either side of the mouth , ligule smooth with pubescence apically . panicle .-- erect , compoundly branched ( often branched in two &# 39 ; s ), 4 - 8 cm in length and does not extend beyond the leaves ; spikelet .-- with 5 - 9 flowers , subtending &# 34 ; bracts &# 34 ; infertile , 20 - 40 mm in length , 6 - 10 mm in width ; florets .-- lemma 10 - 15 mm in length decreasing slightly apically on the spikelet , 4 - 6 feint veins on either side of a weak keel ; palea 9 - 11 mm in length , length decreasing slightly apically on the spikelet ; caryopses .-- 6 - 11 mm in length ( including the bifurcated style ), length decreasing slightly apically on the spikelet , 1 - 2 mm in width , 1 - 2 mm in height ; embryo cover 2 - 4 mm in length ; ventral surface indented with a longitudinal groove ( except in unusually well - filled caryopses ); anterior seed coat longitudinally wrinkled and posterior portion wrinkled into two rounded ventral keels and one rounded dorsal keel which extends to the bifurcation of the styles ; surface texture with numerous longitudinal striae and light vertical rugae , glabrous , colored a coriaceous brown and may be darker anteriorly and lighter posteriorly .
a variety , yensen 1a , of distichlis palmeri , characterized by vigorous growth in salty soils , high grain yield and ideal form for harvest , and for human consumption .