Poa schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 17-100 cm long; 2-4 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1-4 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; flat, or conduplicate; 5-20 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; oblong; effuse; equilateral, or nodding; 7-35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading, or reflexed; 1-2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5-7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or woolly.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5-7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or woolly.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7-4 mm long; 0.75-1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1-3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2-4.5 mm long; 0.8-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma ovate; lanceolate in profile; 2.5-4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.3-0.8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

Distribution

Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

Reference

Poeae. FTEA.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial about 60 cm. high

Ecology

Mountain peaks.

Gramineae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 10:1. 1971

Morphology General Habit

A loosely caespitose perennial.

Morphology Culms

Culms 15-70 cm. tall, 2-4-noded, erect or geniculately ascending, sometimes straggling, very slender, weak, simple or branched below, terete to slightly compressed, smooth, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf-sheaths coarsely striate, rather loose, sometimes papery, keeled towards the mouth, smooth, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule 0·5-6 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf-laminae 3-18 x 0·1-0·4 cm., very narrowly linear, tapering to a fine soft point, expanded or convolute (often only in the upper 1/2), rather flaccid, scaberulous on the upper, usually smooth on the lower surface, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle 7-20 x 3-10 cm., broadly elliptic to oblong in outline, very loose and open, effuse, very lax, erect or nodding, with the rhachis very slender and curved; branches very delicate, filiform, solitary or paired, usually bare of spikelets in the lower half, spreading or deflexed, more rarely ascending.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3-6 mm. long, 2-5-flowered, ovate to ovate-oblong in outline, pale green or more often tinged with purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume 1·75-4 mm. long, 1-(sometimes 3-) nerved, ovate-oblong to narrowly elliptic with the apex acute or subacute; the superior 2-4·5 mm. long, 3-nerved, similar in shape.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Lemma 3·2-4·75 mm. long, 5-nerved, ovate to ovate-elliptic, with the apex acute, dorsally glabrous or pubescent (especially towards the base).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 0·7-1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis c. 2 mm. long.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; culms 17–100 cm. high, slender, weak, erect or straggling.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear, often folded, 5–20 cm. long and 2–4 mm. wide, erect or spreading, abruptly narrowed at the tip; ligule 1–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle narrowly oblong, 7–35 cm. long, erect or nodding, the branches flexuous, often capillary, ascending, spreading or reflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2–5-flowered, elliptic, 2.5–7.5 mm. long, yellowish-green to purple; glumes lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 1–3-nerved, the lower 1.5–3.5 mm. long, the upper a little longer; lemma ovate, 2.5–4.5 mm. long, acute or narrowly obtuse, glabrous or pubescent, with or without a basal tuft of wool; anthers 0.3–0.8 mm. long.

Habitat

Ranges from forest margins and disturbed places to upland grassland and moor; prefers shady and moist sites; 2300–4200 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 T2 T6 T7 U1 U2 U3

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103648163/103648737

Conservation

LC - least concern

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Compactly caespitose perennial; culms 10–40 cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear, usually folded, 3–10 cm. long and 2–4 mm. wide, erect, forming a basal tuft, abruptly narrowed at the tip; ligule 1–3.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle pyramidal, 4–10 cm. long, erect, the branches stiff and spreading horizontally or reflexing, the spikelets in a cluster at their tips.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2–4-flowered, elliptic, 4–5.5(–6.5) mm. long, glabrous, tinged with purple; glumes lanceolate to narrowly ovate, obtuse to subacute, the lower 2.5–3.5(–4) mm. long and 1–3-nerved, the upper a little longer and 3-nerved; lemma ovate, 3–3.5(–4.5) mm. long, obtuse, glabrous, with or without a basal tuft of wool; anthers 0.5–1 mm. long.

Habitat

Streamsides and stony slopes or volcanic ash in upland moor; 3700–4300 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 T2 U2