Poa epileuca

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or caespitose. Culms erect; 10–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or absent; 0.1 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades erect; aciculate; conduplicate; 2–7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 2–3 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Rhachilla extension 0.25 length of fertile floret. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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