Poa leptoclada

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering, or persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–75 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6–4.5(–6) mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; 2–12 cm long; 0.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; equilateral, or nodding; (2.5–)5–19 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4.5(–6) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.7–2.5(–3) mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 2–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on back, or on veins. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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