Poa hedbergii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 0.8–2.3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic, or oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 4–8 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; elliptic in profile; 5–5.3 mm long; membranous; purple and yellow; bordered with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eth 1997.

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