Poa flabellata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 100–250 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 7–12 mm long; entire, or lacerate; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 30–70 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; pyramidal, or ovate; 5–20 cm long; 1–4 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; elliptic in profile; 4–6 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface scabrous; rough generally; glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse to acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–3 mm long overall. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern. South America: southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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