Poa menachensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Culms 25–55 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 8–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.2–2.6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.7–3.1 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; elliptic in profile; 3.4–3.8 mm long; herbaceous; glandular on veins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface punctate; pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Poeae. TAC 1997.

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