Poa ragonesei

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 32–60 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 18–22 cm long; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 20–30 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; 10–17 cm long; 5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 4–6 -nate; 5–9 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.3 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–2.1 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.8–3.3 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2–2.4 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above; with 0.5 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.3–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.6 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Neg. & Anton 2001.

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