Poa compressa 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 compressa L., Sp. Pl. 1: 69. 1753. Fig. 2

Type.

Habitat in Europae and Americae septentrionalis (lectotype, designated by Soreng in 2000: 255: LINN (LINN-87.41!)).

Many heterotypic synonyms.

- P. sect. Tichopoa Asch. & Graebn., Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 2: 419. 1900. Type, P. compressa L.

Distribution.

Lesotho, Sehlabathebe N. P., South Africa EC. Introduced, pan-boreal native of Eurasia, NW Africa and North America.

Ecology.

wet grasslands at high elevations.

Flowering.

summer and autumn.

Economics.

infrequent, useful for soil stabilisation in wet soils.

Vouchers.

Lesotho. West of Sehlabathebe National Park, under large dripping roof/cave above the Leqooa-Legowa river, S29.858547 E29.055979, 2330 m alt., sandstone substrate, below W facing cliffs, soil very wet and dominated by Lachnagrostis lachnantha , 21 Feb 2020, S.P. Sylvester et al. 3573 (NU, PRE, US). South Africa. Eastern Cape: about 15 km east of Rhodes in Kloppershoekspruit valley, Mavis Bank Farm, stream, on wet mud on streamside, 7 Dec 1999, L. Smook 10245 (PRE); Eastern Cape: Barkly East, Morriston above Barkly P., Marg. Dohne Sour V., 6700' [1829 m], 17 Jan 1959, J.P.H. Alcocks 20227 ("= Alcocks 12124 from Tarka") (PRE); Eastern Cape: between Casrlisleshoekspruit Pass and Tiffindell Ski Area, S30.677202 E27.956643, 2526 m alt., basaltic substrate, Afro-alpine riparian wetland, 10 Feb 2020, S.P. Sylvester et al. 3439 (NU, PRE, US).

Notes.

First reports for South Africa and Lesotho. Apparently, it is well established in the southern Drakensberg, where it was collected previously in 1959 and three times since. At PRE, it has passed under the determinations as Poa pratensis and Poa sp. Now it is also known from south-eastern Lesotho. Apomixis is known. 2 n = 35, 42, 45, 49, 50, 56. - Ss genotype.

Figures

Figure 2. Poa compressa. A whole plant B spikelets, lateral view C portion of inflorescence and leaf blade. Image A of S. P. Sylvester et al. 3439 (US) B of S. P. Sylvester et al. 3439 (PRE) C of J. P. H. Acocks 20227 (PRE).