Poa irkutica

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–90 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 4–15 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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