Poa sublimis

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 5–15 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface; entire; obtuse. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 1–5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–4.5 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long; smooth. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–3.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.5–2.5 mm long. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface smooth.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3–0.6 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Poeae. Edgar 1995.

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