Poa mollis Vickery. Contr. New
South Wales Natl Herb. 4: 241, t. XII, 3 (1970).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Tasmania: Rocky cliffs at Cataract
Gorge, S. Esk Rv., Launceston: 27 Oct 1943, W.M. Curtis 82 (HT: K; IT:
HO).
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 (316).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 25–80 cm tall, 1–3 -noded. Mid-culm internodes
pubescent. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly
basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, 0.4–0.9(–2) mm long, abaxially hairy, truncate. Leaf-blades
conduplicate or involute, 4.5–20 cm long, 0.9–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, loose, 6.4–15.5 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2–6), comprising 2–6 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 2.8–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper
glume oblong, 2.1–2.3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume surface asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.3–3.4 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Tasmania.
Tasmania: North
West, Midlands.
Notes.
Very close to P. morrisii Vickery, differing in the usually broadly
keeled, blunt or very shortly pointed leaf tip, and the usually glabrous lemma
internerves.
Endemic.
Around Launceston and the Midlands aea of Tas. On dry open hillsides and
cliffs. Flowers Nov.
