Poa markgrafii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–15 cm long; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 2–3 cm long; 0.5–0.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)3(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus woolly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with scarious margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous (above); pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma margins woolly; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.4–1.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Hartman 2006.

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