Poa pseudoabbreviata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 5–8 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; with 0–0.25 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 2–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; 3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 2.5–3.2 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1996.

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