Poa hieronymi

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 100–150 cm long; 20 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5 -nate; whorled at most nodes; profusely divided; 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Hackel 1997.

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