Poa madecassa

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 4–10 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; 2–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 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 lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Madag 1997.

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