Poa kurdistanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2.5–7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–9 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.6–3 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.8–3.1 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; oblong in profile; 3–3.2 mm long; membranous; glaucous and purple; tipped with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Chrtek 2995.

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