Poa araratica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths herbaceous. Culms erect; (15–)25–30 cm long; with 0.25–0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes terete; smooth. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.5 mm long; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 4–10 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense, or loose; 4–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2 -nate. Panicle branches flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 3–3.8 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; (2.8–)3–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 0.9 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pak.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.