Poa acinaciphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–75 cm long; 2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 5–10 cm long; 2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 2.5–7 cm long; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.6 mm long; smooth; glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Desvayx 2004.

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