Poa maia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 20–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1.5 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface; entire; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; conduplicate; 1.5–16 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2 -nate. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long; smooth. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–2.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2–3 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Palea surface smooth. Rhachilla extension 1 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3–0.5 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Poeae. Edgar 1995.

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