Poa sichotensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 60–110 cm long; 3–5 -noded; with 0.66 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; with 0.1–0.2 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; bearing 6–16 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.8–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2.8–6 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east and China.

NOTES Poeae. Probat 1995.

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