Poa siphonoglossa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms rambling; 100–400 cm long (long). Culm-internodes solid; 30–65 cm long. Culm-sheaths persistent. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; 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; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy below. Lemma margins scabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Poeae. Hitchcock.

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