Poa leioclada

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long; 3 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes terete. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 7–14 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 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 0.7 mm long; smooth. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.85 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface asperulous; glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Hackel 1995.

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