Poa pygmaea

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Butt sheaths glossy. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms prostrate; 1.5–2.5 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; entire; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 0.3–0.7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff; dark green. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle contracted; linear; 0.5–1 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 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. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on back, or on veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2.5–3 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Rhachilla extension 2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4–0.6 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5–2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Poeae. Edgar 1995.

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