Poa polychroa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 9–26(–30) cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or convolute; 3–11 cm long; 0.3–0.6(–0.8) mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 2–6 cm long; 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate; pilose; hairy above. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 2.7–3.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1.2 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–2.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Iraq.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Leaf-blades 0.5–0.66 length of culm.

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