Poa infirma Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 158. 1816.

Soreng, Robert J., Sylvester, Steven P., Sylvester, Mitsy D. P. V. & Clark, Vincent Ralph, 2020, New records and key to Poa (Pooideae, Poaceae) from the Flora of Southern Africa region and notes on taxa including a diclinous breeding system in Poa binata, PhytoKeys 165, pp. 27-50 : 27

Poa infirma Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 158. 1816. Fig. 4

Megastachya infirma (Kunth) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. [Sprengel] 2: 585. 1817. Eragrostis infirma (Kunth) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. (ed. 2) 1: 563. 1840. Ochlopoa infirma (Kunth) H. Scholz, Ber. Inst. Lanschafts - Pflanzenokologie Univ. Hohenheim Beih., 16: 59. 2003.

= Poa annua var. exilis Tomm. ex Freyn, Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien. 27: 469. 1878. Poa exilis (Tomm.) Murb. ex Asch. & Graebn. Acta Univ. Lund. 4: 73. 1905. Type protologue: S Europe: Istria: Langs der Kust von Fasana bis Medolino, auch auf S. Marina, 1872, Tommasini s.n. Lectotype: Italy. S. Marina, 24 Mar. 1873, Tommasini s.n. (lectotype, designated by Soreng and Fulvio Tomsich Caruso in Sylvester et al. 2020: TSM!).

- P. sect. Micrantherae Stapf

Type.

Colombia. Crescit in frigidis regni Novogranatensis, inter Fonibon, Suba et Santa Fe de Bogota, 1360 hexap. [2448 m], floret. Aug, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (lectotype, designated by Sylvester et al. 2020: P (P00669436!, herb. Humboldt & Bonpland Ameriqui Ecuatorial; isolectotypes: P (P00128983!), US (US1851276! fragm. ex P, US2851277! {134; Aug 1801; Colombia [ex P-Bonpl.]})).

Distribution.

Introduced to the FSA region and found in Namibia and the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Native to the Mediterranean Sea region of Europe, North Africa and western Asia.

Ecology.

ruderal.

Flowering.

early spring.

Economics.

infrequent, insignificant.

Vouchers.

Namibia. Noordoewer: Motel flower beds, 14 Sep 1981, L. Smook 3576 (PRE). South Africa. Western Cape: Swellendam District, Sep 1962, L.C.C. Liebenberg 6495 (PRE); Western Cape: Porterville, Dasklip pans, wet gully up pass, 7 Oct 1981, L. Smook 3672 (PRE).

Notes.

First report for South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Poa infirma is one of the diploid parents of the tetraploid species, Poa annua . The species is self-compatible, inbreeding. 2 n = 14. - Mimi genotype.

Figures

Figure 4. Poa infirma. A whole plants B-D close-up of inflorescence showing spikelets generally in lateral view and miniscule anthers (a). Image A, B of Smook 3576 (PRE 0652756 - 0) C, D of Smook 3672 (PRE).