Poa marshallii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 28–33 cm long; 1 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate, or involute; 15–20 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 5.5–8 cm long; 0.7–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.2–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; ovate in profile; 2.4–2.6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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