Poa crassicaulis

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 5–20 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades oblong; 1.2–3 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 1.5–2 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 0.5–4 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2(–4) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.8–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–3 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.6–3.2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 2–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.5–2 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. Alp Fl N Guin 1994.

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