Poa binata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section (below). Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–6 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–15(–18) cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal, or ovate; loose, or effuse; equilateral, or nodding; 5–15 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; elliptic in profile; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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