Poa ruprechtii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms 40–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 10–18 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; elliptic in profile; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Poeae. WDC 2001.

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