Poa ramosissima

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms prostrate; 10–30 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades 9–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 4–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–1 mm long; smooth. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets alike but female above. Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 3.8–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5(–7) -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Palea 2.5–4.5 mm long. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3–1 mm long; membranous; glabrous, or ciliate. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1 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.