Poa sallacustris

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes terete, or elliptical in section. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 6–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hooded, or simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–10 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; elliptic in profile; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate; hairy at base. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on back; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Poeae. Walsh 1997.

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