Poa multinodis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute, or convolute; 2.5–9 cm long; 1–1.6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; 0.5–2.6 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.4 mm long; smooth. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 0.8–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.1–1.8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 2–2.4 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.2–2.2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1.2–1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. Alp Fl N Guin 1994.

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