Poa rajbhandarii

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Culms 16–45 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–2.3 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface, or pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse. Leaf-blades 4–12 cm long; 0.9–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; loose; 8–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; distant; 1–4 -nate; 3–7 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.7–5.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.2–2.3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 2.8–4.2 mm long; 1.6 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface smooth, or punctate; pubescent; hairy on veins. Lemma margins ciliolate; hairy at base. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2.1–2.8 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.6–0.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Bhutan 2001.

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