Poa ruwenzoriensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Culms erect; 10–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–10 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 4–15 cm long; 2–8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; interrupted; 2.5–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 3–5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.3–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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