Poa lanuginosa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 30–60 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–12 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 10–40 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly. Floret callus hairs 1 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–7.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–8 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 6–8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on back, or on veins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 2–2.2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female. Male spikelets resembling female; 5–7 flowered; 7–7.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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