Poa kurtzii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–65 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–20 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; 4–8 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4–5 mm long; 2.5 mm wide; membranous; purple and yellow; tipped with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough between veins; glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 3.5 mm long. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India. South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fries 1997.

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