Poa subfastigiata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 35–120 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; smooth. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–25 cm long; 10–25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate; 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; 2–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; elliptic in profile; 4–5.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliate; adorned in the middle. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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