Poa ayacuchensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms robust; 100–150 cm long; 5–7 -noded. Leaf-sheaths keeled; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 25–40 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 25–35 cm long; with spikelets clumped along branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.8–4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.8–5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; elliptic in profile; 5–5.4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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