Poa kilimanjarica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering. Culms 14–20 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–3.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades aciculate; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; 4–7 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; glabrous. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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