Poa chokensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–6 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1.7–3.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hooded; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 9–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; elliptic in profile; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; ciliolate; adorned in the middle. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eth 1997.

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