Poa tenera F.
Muell. ex Hook. f. Fl. Tasman. 2: 124, t. 164A (1958).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Poa saxicola
var. effusa Nees, London J. Bot. 2: 418 (1843).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: "Insula Van Diemen: 13 Dec
1837", Gunn 1009 (HT: CGE).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (180 as P.
saxicola), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (159), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol
44A. Poaceae 2 (325).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (159, fig. 112), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(354), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(323, Fig. 43).
Habit.
Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect or sprawling, stature reed-like or
slender to delicate, 10–30 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pubescent
or pilose. Lateral branches simple or branched. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths
smooth or scaberulous, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
0.3–1.5 mm long, abaxially glabrous or abaxially scaberulous, truncate.
Leaf-blades filiform or linear, flat or conduplicate or convolute,
(5–)11.5–17(–20) cm long, 0.3–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or
scaberulous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 2–12 cm long, with spikelets
clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2–3(-4)), comprising 2–3(–4) fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, oblong or ovate, laterally compressed, 2.6–6.4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper
glume oblong, 1–1.6 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–3 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or
indumented. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
South Australia:
Eyre Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. New South
Wales: Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes,
South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands,
Gippsland Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway
Range, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, Volcanic Plain, Wannon. Tasmania:
North East, West Coast, Central Highlands, Midlands, East Coast, South West.
Notes. Endemic.
Shady and moist but well drained areas. Flowers Jan. Fruits Feb.
