Poa scaberula Hook. f., Fl. Antarct. 2: 378 1846.

Soreng, Robert J. & Peterson, Paul M., 2012, Revision of Poa L. (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae, Poinae) in Mexico: new records, re-evaluation of P. ruprechtii, and two new species, P. palmeri and P. wendtii, PhytoKeys 15, pp. 1-104 : 54-58

18. Poa scaberula Hook. f., Fl. Antarct. 2: 378 1846. Figs 13 I-L 19

Type:

Chile, Straight of Magalhaens, Port Famine, King s.n. (holotype: K!; isotypes: BAA! fragm., GH). Poa conglomerata Rupr. ex Peyr., Linnaea 30(1): 8. 1859. Poa conglomerata Rupr., nom. nud., in Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9(2): 235. 1842. Type: Mexico, Veracruz, Cordillera, Pic d’ Orizaba, 12500 ft [3810 m], Jun-Oct 1840, H.G. Galeotti 5776 (lectotype: W-29695! designated here, partial lectotype designated by Hitchcock 1913: 374; isolectotypes: LE!, P!, US-89680! fragm. ex P). Fig. 19 . Dasypoa tenuis Pilg Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25(5): 716-717. 1898. Type: Peru, Lago Titicaca, Tiquina, 3800 m, 13 Jan 1877, M.A. Stübel 60f (holotype: B!; isotypes: BAA! fragm. ex B, US-865610! fragm. ex B). Poa anfamensis Negritto & Anton, Darwiniana 35(1-4): 159-161, f. 1. 1998. Poa micranthera Hack., Anales Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, 21: 154. 1911. nom. nud. Type: Argentina, Tucuman, Tafi, Cuesta de Anfama, 2000m, 24 Jan 1907, Lillo 5468 herb. Stuckert 19827 (holotype: W!; isotypes: LIL!, US-88758! fragm. ex W); Poa dactyliformis Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac.1: 426. 1854. Type: Chile, Punta de Arenas, Jan 1853, Lechler W. (R.F. Hohenacker exsiccate) 1151 (holotype: P; isotypes: LE!; SGO!, US-89676! fragm. ex SGO & photo, W!). Poa maullinica Phil., Anales Univ. Chile 94: 164. 1896. Type. Chile, Provincia de Llanquihue, Maullin, Carlos Juliet (holotype: SGO-PHIL-416!; isotypes: SGO-45753!, SGO-37322!, US-A2947091! fragm. ex SGO-PHIL-416 & photo, US-1763025!).

Description.

Hermaphroditic. Perennials, short-lived; tufted, tufts dense or loose, usually narrow girth, small to moderate height (2-25 cm tall), usually delicate, green; tillers intravaginal (each subtended by a single elongated, 2-keeled, longitudinally split prophyll), without cataphyllous shoots. Culms 8-80 cm tall, slender, erect or ascending, usually slender, leafy, terete or lower internodes slightly compressed, smooth; nodes terete, 2-4, 0-3 nodes exposed or exerted. Leaf sheaths laterally compressed, distinctly keeled, lightly to moderately scabrous, glabrous; flag leaf sheaths (2-)4-15 cm long, margins fused 25-32% the length; throats and collars smooth or slightly scabrous, glabrous; ligules 1-4 mm long, sometimes decurrent, sub-hyaline, milky-white, abaxially scabrous, apex obtuse to acute, sterile shoot ligules shorter than those of the upper culm leaves; blades mostly 5-10 cm long, 1-3.5(-4) mm wide, flat, thin, lax, soon withering, distinctly keeled, surfaces and margins sparsely to densely scabrous, apex slenderly prow-tipped; flag leaf blades little reduced; sterile shoot blades like those of the culm. Panicles 3-15 cm long, erect, contracted, sub-cylindrical, usually somewhat interrupted, lobed, congested, with 30 to well over 100 spikelets, peduncle and axis moderately to densely scabrous; rachis with 2-3 branches per node; primary branches erect or slightly spreading, fairly strict, angled, densely scabrous on and between angles; lateral pedicels mostly less than 1/5 the spikelet, <0.5 mm long, densely scabrous, prickles moderately coarse; longest branches 1-7 cm, with 4-60 spikelets, with spikelets congested from the base up to from the lower 1/3 to the apex. Spikelets 3-4 mm long, lanceolate when closed, lanceolate, laterally strongly compressed, not bulbiferous, not shiny, green or sometimes anthocyanic; florets (2-)3-4(-5), hermaphroditic; rachilla internodes terete, mostly 0.3-0.4 mm long, smooth, minutely bumpy, or slightly scabrous, glabrous; glumes narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate with a narrow scarious margins, unequal to subequal, shorter than adjacent lemmas, keels scabrous, lateral veins and surfaces smooth or distinctly scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate, sharply pointed, straight or somewhat sickle shaped; lower glumes 1.4-2.8 mm long, 1-veined; upper glumes 1.8-3 mm long, (1-)3-veined; calluses dorsally webbed, commonly with additional webs below the marginal veins, hairs 1-3 mm long, woolly; lemmas 2.5-3 mm long, 5-veined, broadly lanceolate, strongly keeled, keel nearly smooth or scabrous for the upper 1/2, keel to 1/2 and marginal veins to 1/2 sericious, between veins glabrous, distally smooth or scabrous, intermediate veins faint to distinct, sometimes slightly scabrous, margins narrowly scarious distally, scabrous on the edge, apex acute, pointed; paleas distinctly shorter than the lemma, keels scabrous, between keels smooth or lightly scabrous. Flowers mainly cleistogamous or weakly chasmogamous; lodicules 0.5 mm long, lanceolate with a distinct narrow lateral lobe near the middle; anthers 0.4-0.7 mm long. Caryopses 1.1-1.3 mm long, elliptical in side-view, slightly laterally compressed, honey-colored, sulcus shallow, hilum 0.1 mm long, punctiform grain adherent to the palea, styles short, stigmas sparse. 2n = unknown.

Distribution.

The species is found in North, Central, and South America; Mesoamerica: Guatemala; Mexico: Chiapas, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz; South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

Ecology.

In Mexico the species is found in mesic, cool temperate forest openings to low alpine habitats, particularly on volcanic substrates, and frequently associated with some disturbance; ranging from 2400-4450 m. Flowering July through October.

Specimens examined.

Mexico. Chiapas: 1 km al E de Rizo de Oro, 850 m, 17 Oct 1985, P. Dávila 148, E.Martinez, R.Riba & J.L.Villasenor (MEXU). Distrito Federal: Giles-R. 57 (MEXU). J.Rzedowski 1540 (MEXU). J.Rzedowski 1979 (MEXU, MEXU). Ellis 1117, Dunn & LeDoux (MO). L.Pacheco 52 & P. Dávila (MEXU). A.Mirand a 880 (MEXU). G.Villegas & R.Medez (MEXU). A.Miranda 61 & P.Guerrero (MEXU, MO). A.Miranda 74 & P.Guerrero (MEXU). Municipio De Chalco, faldas del Cerro Telapón, 3150 m, 26 Aug 1964, E.Arrington s.n. (TEX). Municipio Talpan, Volcán el Pelado, 3470 m, 31 Aug 1986, Campos E35-10 et al. (MEXU). 25 mi SE of Mexico City, 9000 ft [2740 m], 2 Aug 1947, F.A.Barkley 2427, C.M.Rowell Jr. & G.L.Webster (TEX). Mexico: Toluca, 8800 ft [2680 m], C.Heller 308 (W syntype Poa conglomerata ); ditto, C.Heller 309 (W syntype Poa conglomerata ). 55 km SE of Mexico City, 10500 ft [3200 m], 11 Jul 1942, J.N.Weaver 758 (TAES, TEX, US); ditto, 14 Jul 1942 (TEX); ditto, 14 Jul 1942, J.N.Weaver 787 (TAES). Municipio de Acoyoacac, 5 km al S del la Marquesa carratera La Marquesa-Tiangistengo (19°15'30"N, 99°22'31"W), 24 Oct 1997, L. Aragón-M. 676 (MEXU). Municipio Jilotzingo, 13 km de Santa Ana Jilotzingo por la carretera hacia la Presa Iturbide, 3230 m, 28 Aug 1984, M. Gonzáles 111, J. García & I. Hernández (TAES). Volcan de Toluca, 3550 m, 18 Oct 1953, E.R.Sohns 1005 & E.Matuda (TAES). camino de Toluca al Nevado de Toluca, 2900 m, 4 Aug 1962, J.Rzedowski 15821 (TAES). 22.5 km SW of Toluca on road to Nevado de Toluca, 3500 m, 07 Oct 1991, P.M.Peterson 11087 & C.R.Annable (US). W slopes of Nevado de Toluca, 35 km SW of Toluca on highway 130, 3000 m, 29 Aug 1965, S.Mori 1498 (p.p.), K.Roe & E.Roe (TAES). 1.7 mi E of Highway 10 along road to Nevado de Toluca, 19°8'4.9"N, 99°47'45.5"W, 3688 m, 9 Oct 2007, P.M.Peterson 21351, J.M.Saarela & M.J.Flores-Villegas (US). Cerros Tenaya, Soneyo, 2600 m, 27 Jul 1952, E.Matuda 26248 (MEXU). N slopes of Nevado de Toluca, campo de Rafael Alvarez y Fidel Garcia, weedy fallow portion of field, 3340 m., 20 Aug 1962, D.Ugent 1242, V.Ugent & R.Flores-C. (WIS). 27 km. SW of Toluca on road to Temaxcaltepic, ca. 2800m., 9 Jul 1964, sin collector 229 (WIS). S slope of Nevado de Toluca, along road, ca. 3200ft [975 m] 16 Jul 1954, G.B.VanSchaack 3395 (WIS). W slope Nevado Toluca, 2800 m, 16 Jul 1954, G.B.VanSchaack 3390 (WIS); ditto, 3392 (MEXU, WIS). La Puerta, 2 km por la Carretera al Nevado de Toluca sur, 1 Aug 1981, R.Guzman 3973 (MEXU). entre Raices y La Peñas, al S de Toluca, 3304 m, 1 Aug 1981, R.Guzman 3988 (MEXU). km 15 de la desviacion a Sultepec (carratera Toluca-Temasclatepec), 3420 m, 28 Jul 1983, E.Manrique 273, Guerrero & Miranda (MEXU). A 7 km de Buenavista, rumbo a Temascaltepec, 3250, E.Manrique 286, Jaramillo & Guerrero (MEXU). Ixtaccihuatl, Oct. 1905, C.A Purpus 1638 (MO, US). road to Paso del Cortez, 3370 m, S.D.Koch 76252 (MEXU, MO, TAES, US); ditto, 3300 m, S.D.Koch 76273 (MO, TAES). 6.7 mi E of Amecameca toward Paso de Cortez, 19°4'14.2"N, 98°41'32.1"W, 2488 m, 11 Oct 2007, P.M.Peterson 21381, J.M.Saarela & M.J.Flores-Villegas (US). P.N. Izta-Popo, 8 Jul 1980, A.A.Beetle M-5211 (MO). Mount Popocatepetl, 5-6 Aug 1910, A.S.Hitchcock 1204 (LL, TAES). vertiente northwest del Popocatepetl, 3200 m, 15 Jul 1965, J.Rzedowski 20192 (TAES). Popocatepetl, Refugio de Tlamancas, 3850 m, 20 Nov 1983, A.Ramirez-E. Popo-4 (MEXU). 12.5 miles from turnoff to the summit of Popocatepetl, 3460 m, 18 Oct 1976, J.Brunken 420 & C.Perino (MO TAES). 11 km by road E of Amecameca highway 115 jct., on road to Paso del Cortez and Popo, in big curve, 19.0877°N, 98.679°W, 2990 m, 2 Oct 1987, R.J.Soreng 3301 & N.Soreng (US). 17 km by road E of Amecameca highway 115 jct., west of Paso del Cortez, 19.097 °N, 98.683°W, 3325 m, 2 Oct 1987, R.J.Soreng 3306 & N.Soreng (US). 1 km N of Paso del Cortez toward Ixtaccihuatl, 19.098°N, W 98.6564°W, 3690 m, 2 Oct 1987, R.J.Soreng 3310 & N.Soreng (US). 1 km N of La Joya Trail Head, southwest flank of Ixtaccihuatl, 19.1507°N, 98.6525°W, 3965 m, 2 Oct 1987, R.J.Soreng 3313 & N.Soreng (US; Soreng 1990, cpDNA voucher "3315" error for 3313). 4 km N of la Estacion Retransmisora, bertienente southeast del Ixtaccihuatl, 3800m., 15 Jul 1965, J.Rzedowski 20177 (TAES, WIS). Sierra de las Cruces, 1 Oct 1892, C.G.Pringle 4307 (MO, TAES, US, US). Morelos: km 45 carretera México-Cuernavaca, 2.5 km adelante de Parras, 26 Jul 1980, G.Andrade s.n. & C.H.Ramos (MEXU-1071983). Puebla: Parque Nacional Izta-Popo, 0.5 mi east of Paso de Cortez at entrance to park, 19°5'17.8"N, 98°38'25.2"W, 3671 m, 11 Oct 2007, P.M.Peterson 21394, J.M.Saarela & M.J.Flores-Villegas (US). Paso del Cortez, ca. 1 km ENE de la retransmisora de television, 3860 m, 9 Nov 1976, S.D.Koch 76257 (TAES). base of Mt. Orizaba, 9000 ft [2740 m], 26 Jul 1901, C.G.Pringle 9594 (ISC, MEXU, MO, TAES, US). NW slopes of Orizaba, 23 rd km above Tlatlachichua ca. 6 km north-northwest of Pico de Orizaba, near head of Rio Quatzalapa, ca. 2 km SW of Cerro Mihas, 19.086°N, 97.288°W, 3660 m, 4 Oct 1987, R.J.Soreng 3326a & N. Soreng (US, DNA voucher, unpublished). Sierra Negra (southwest of Pico Orizaba), east side of mountain, 4080-4240 m, 10 Sep 1958, J.H.Beaman 2518 (MEXU, TEX, WIS). Tlaxcala: Tlaxcala, 3000 m, 13 Jul 1954, G.B.VanSchaack 3383 (MEXU, WIS). 6 km de Terrenate rumbo a Cerro Alto, 3100 m, 19 Jul 1985, E.Manrique et al. 1111 (MEXU). Municipio Chiautempan, 200 m de la est. de microondos rumbo al refugio de La Malinche, 3000 m, 5 Sep 1981, S.H.Contreras 593 (MEXU); ditto, S.H.Contreras 599 (MEXU). Municipio Huamantla, carretara a Teacalco, 10 km sobre la desva. al albergue de la Malinche, 3360 m, 2 Aug 1983, Guerrero 614, Romero, Rodrigues & DelaMora (MEXU). Veracruz: Mt. Orizaba, 10000 ft [3050 m] 1 Aug 1901, H.E.Seaton190 (US). 25-26 Jul 1901, J.N.Rose 5732 & R.Hay (MEXU). Sep 1907, C.A.Purpus 2887 (US). Sep 1907, C.A.Purpus 2888 (MO, NY, NY, US). Mar 1908, C.A.Purpus 3014 p.p. (MO). Municipio La Perla, n. side of Pico Orizaba above the Piedra Grande mountaineering shelter, 19°03'N, 97°16'W, 4450 m, 21 Sep 1986, M.Nee 33170, R.Roblez-G., R.Acevedo-R. & J.L.Martinez-P. (MO). Pico de Orizaba, south side of mountain, north of Cueva del Muerto, 21 Sep 1957, J.H.Beaman 1776 (TEX). Municipio Perote, Parque Nat., Cofre de Perote, 2 km del camino de El Conejo al Cofre, 19°33'N, 97°09'W, 3350 m, 5 Jul 1983, H.Narave-F. et al. 750 (MEXU). 19°31'55"N, 97°09'19"W, 3300 m, 28 Mar 1995, P.J. Parroquín 88 (MEXU); ditto, P.J. Parroquín 88-A (MEXU). Cofre de Perote, 2 km del camino de El Conejo al Cofre, 19°30'N, 97°18'W, 4200 m, 13 Jan 1979, O.Castillo-O. 445 & R.Ortega-O. (MEXU); ditto, 19°29'31"N, 97°08'51"W, 4200 m, 3 Jun 1994, C.R.Galindo 47 (MEXU); ditto, summit, 4140 m, 20 Sep 1997, S.J.Darbyshire 4798 & M. González-Ledesma (US).

Discussion.

In Mexico and Guatemala this taxon was known as Poa conglomerata until Soreng et al. (2003) placed it in synonymy of Poa scaberula ( Dávila Aranda et al. 2006, followed this). Poa scaberula was previously known only from South American where it is scattered along the Andes from Colombia to Tierra del Fuego in cool temperate forests and mesic puna. There is no character by which to separate the Central American material from the South American plants, both of which are highly variable in stature. Plants with glabrous lemmas, but still with a web on the callus occur occasionally throughout the range of the species but are more frequently encountered in Mexico than elsewhere. Hitchcock’s incomplete lectotypification of Poa conglomerata of Galeotti 5776 was mistakenly treated by Manrique de Skendzic (1999) and Soreng et al. (2003) to have been on the US fragment (which is the tip of a branch with a dense cluster of spikelets obtained by A. Chase in 1927). That is not adequate since the original Galeotti collection from which the US fragment was taken presumably still exists at P, and other sheets are at LE, possibly BR, and are known from W (where Peyritsch worked). We lectotypify on the W collection since it is the only specimen of Galeotti 5776 that we can be reasonably certain Peyritsch saw when he described the species.

Figures

Figure 13. A-D Poa mulleri Swallen A spikelet B floret C palea D pistil E-H Poa seleri Pilg. E spikelet F floret G palea H pistil I-L Poa scaberula Hook. f. I spikelet J floret K palea L pistil M-O Poa orizabensis Hitchc. M spikelet N floret O palea P-R Poa ruprechtii Peyr. P spikelet Q floret R palea. A-D drawn from Beaman 4470 E-H drawn from deKoninck 134 from Guatemala I-L drawn from Peterson 11087 et al M-O drawn from Soreng 3314 & Soreng P-R drawn from Davidse 9771.

Figure 19. Poa scaberula Hook. f. Photo of lectotype collection Poa conglomerata Rupr. ex Peyr. (Galeotti 5776).