Poa lehoueroui

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 8–22 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 1.5–4 cm long; 0.7–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 2–6 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous. Floret callus woolly. Floret callus hairs 1.5–2.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–2.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–2.8 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.6–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2.2–2.6 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Dobignard & Portal 2011.

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