Poa pearsonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms geniculately ascending; 18–40 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–20 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades involute; 8–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle open; elliptic; 6–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3–3.8 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; 3.5–4.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4.2–4.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Tovar 1995.

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