Poa darwiniana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 1.5–10 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 0.5–4 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 1–2.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–0.7 mm long. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–2.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–2.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; elliptic in profile; 2.8–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough generally. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5–1.7 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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