Poa nemoralis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 69. 1753.

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 nemoralis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 69. 1753. Fig. 5

Type.

Habitat in Europa ad radices montium umbrosas, (lectotype, designated by Soreng in Cafferty et al. 2000: 255: Scheuchzer. Agrostogr. Helv. Prodr. t. 2 (1708); epitype: SWEDEN. Uppland: Danmark Parish, Linnés Hammarby, 14 June 1933, N. Hylander s.n. (epitype, designated by R.J. Soreng and J.R. Edmonson in Cafferty et al. 2000: 255: BM!).

Many heterotypic synonyms.

- P. sect. Stenopoa Dumort., Observ. Gramin. Belg. 110, 112. 1823 [1824]. Type, P. nemoralis L.

Distribution.

Lesotho, Sehlabathebe National Park. Presumably introduced, native to Eurasia and northwest Africa.

Ecology.

bases of basaltic cliffs and shady high-elevation slopes.

Flowering.

late summer, early autumn.

Economics.

rare, little potential in the region.

Vouchers.

Lesotho. Sehlabathebe National Park, lower end of the park on the border, S29.877392 E29.088250, 2653 m alt., basaltic substrate, base of S facing escarpment, soil damp, growing with Bromus catharticus , Myosotis and Melica , 20 Feb 2020, S.P. Sylvester et al. 3555 (NU, PRE, US); Sehlabathebe National Park, lower end of the park on the border, on a small grassy pass between large rock escarpments, S29.875613 E29.087374, 2750 m alt., basaltic substrate, crest of narrow defile between cliffs, grassy area with damp soil, 20 Feb 2020, S.P. Sylvester et al. 3561 (NU, PRE, US).

Notes.

This is the first report of P. nemoralis for Lesotho and sub-Saharan Africa. Populations were found at two locations within 1 km of each other. Mostly hexaploid. Apomixis known. 2 n = 28, 33, 35, 42, 48, 50, 56, 70. - Ss genotype.

Figures

Figure 5. Poa nemoralis. A whole plant B close-up of inflorescence with spikelets in mostly lateral view. Image A of S. P. Sylvester et al. 3555 (US) B of S. P. Sylvester et al. 3555 (PRE).