Poa mendocina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5(–3) mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3.5–4 cm long; 0.6–0.8 cm wide. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6.5 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 lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4.3–4.8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4.5 mm long; 2 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; 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. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Nicora 2001.

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