Poa variegata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5–5 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or convolute; 8–17 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 5–10.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–7 -nate; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (2–)3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate; pilose; hairy above. Floret callus pilose, or woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 2–4.7 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 2–4.7 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; elliptic in profile; 3.5–5.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins; glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1.6 mm long overall. Palea 3.2–4.6 mm long; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–2.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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