Poa lowanensis
N.G. Walsh. Muelleria 7: 381 (1991).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Victoria: Wyperfeld National Park, NE
corner of The Hump", 11 Nov 1968, Beauglehole & Finck 29505
(HT: MEL).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (334).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent or present, short. Culms erect, 30–90 cm tall.
Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on
surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, 0.5–1.3 mm long, abaxially hairy, truncate. Leaf-blades erect,
conduplicate or involute, 4.5–40 cm long, 0.4–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, 12–25 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–7), comprising 3–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 5–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 3.6–4 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3.5–4.7 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire or erose. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Victoria.
Victoria:
Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee.
Notes.
Distinguished by the broad, thin margin of the lemma, more or less contracted
panicle and prominent hairiness of the lemma veins and copious web.
Endemic.
Of restricted distribution in NW Vic. (Big Desert and Sunset Country). Grows in
mallee vegetation on inland sand-dunes. Flowers Oct.-Nov. Fruits unknown.
