Poa wardiana Bor

Poa wardiana is perhaps only a depauperate form of P. rajbhan-darii with subglabrous lemmas, in which case the name P. wardiana has priority, but its lemmas are somewhat scabrid on the sides. The similar P. lachenensis Noltie, from India (Sikkim), differs as follows: lower glume 2.2–3 mm; lemma sides scabrid to minutely bumpy near base, keel glabrous; lower part of culms smooth, shiny, ligule margins smooth; palea smooth between keels, keels medially pilulose.

Annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms several, 28–35 cm tall, 0.6–0.8 mm in diam. base obliquely ascending, nodes 3 or 4, 1 or 2 exserted, scabrid below nodes. Leaf sheaths sparsely scabrid, 4.5–9 cm, 1.2–2 × as long as blade, uppermost closed for 1/2 of length; blades flat, thin, 2.5–8 cm × 1.5–2 mm, abaxially smooth to scabrid, adaxially and margins scabrid, slender prow-tipped; ligule 0.7–1.2 mm, abaxially scabrid, apex truncate to obtuse, erose, collars glabrous. Panicle open, 8–15 × 2–4 cm, longest internodes 2–3.5 cm; branches ascending to spreading, flexuous, 2 per node, capillary to slender, proximally smooth to scabrid, distally scabrid along weak angles, longest 3–7 cm with 5–13 spikelets in distal 1/3. Spikelets oblong to lanceolate, 4.5–5 mm, florets 2 or 3; vivipary absent; rachilla internodes 0.5–1 mm, smooth, glabrous; glumes subequal to slightly unequal, 2–2.5 mm, keel scabrid, apex acuminate, purplish violet, lower glume broadly subulate, 1.5–2.2 mm, 1-veined, upper glume 2.1–2.6 mm, 3-veined; lemmas oblong, 2.7–3.3 mm, apex acute, keel basally sparsely pilulose, area between veins scabrid, glabrous, intermediate veins moderately prominent; callus glabrous; palea shorter than lemma, scabrid on and between keels. Anthers 0.7–0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul.

Xizang, Yunnan [India (Assam)].

Grassy places among Rhododendron thickets on slopes; 3300–4000 m.