Poa diversifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 42–74 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 0.8–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 10–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–5 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk 1995.

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