Poa kenteica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Stolons absent, or present. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 4–6 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2 -nate; bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.2–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; mid-green and yellow; tipped with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below; hairy between veins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 0.5 mm long. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Mongolia.

NOTES Poeae. Ivanova 1997.

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