Poa pilata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 3–6 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 13–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 5–7 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 12–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 -nate; 0.4–0.8 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–0.6 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; ovate in profile; 2–3.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2–2.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Rhachilla extension 1–1.5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. Alp Fl N Guin 1994.

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