Poa iridifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms robust; 60–100 cm long; 5–7 mm diam.; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Leaf-sheaths 15–25 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 40–50 cm long; 10–18 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 20 cm long; 4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 4–6 -nate; 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; elliptic in profile; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on back, or on veins. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female. Male spikelets resembling female; 2–4 flowered.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Hauman 1995.

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