Poa fendleriana longiligula (Scribn. & T.A.Williams) Soreng, Great Basin Naturalist 45(3): 408. 1985.

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 : 28-29

8c. Poa fendleriana longiligula (Scribn. & T.A.Williams) Soreng, Great Basin Naturalist 45(3): 408. 1985. Fig. 8 H-I

Poa longiligula Scribn. & T.A.Williams, Circ. Div. Agrostol. U.S.D.A. 9: 3. 1899. Paneion longiligulum (Scribn. & T.A. Williams) Lunell, Amer. Midl. Naturalist 4: 222. 1915. Poa fendleriana var. longiligula (Scribn. & T.A.Williams) Gould, Madroño 10(3): 94. 1949. Type: USA, Utah, Washington Co., Silver Reef, gravel, 3500 ft [1070 m], 3 May 1894, M.E.Jones 5149 (holotype: US-278727!; isotypes: MO!, NY-431282!, OSC!, US-922924!).

Description.

Leaf collars smooth to scabrous near the throat; ligules of middle cauline leaves (1.5-)1.8-18 mm long, decurrent, abaxially smooth or lightly scabrous, upper margin usually smooth, glabrous, apices obtuse to acuminate; sterile shoot blades usually scabrous or softly puberulent adaxially. Spikelet rachilla internodes usually sparsely hispidulous or sparsely softly puberulent; lemmas long villous on keels and marginal veins and sometimes intermediate veins, between veins glabrous or softly puberulent (sometimes densely so); palea keels and between keels sometimes puberulent. Lodicules 0.85 mm long. 2 n = 56.

Distribution.

The subspecies occurs in North America, southwestern Canada, western USA, and in Baja California, Mexico.

Ecology.

Where their ranges overlap Poa fendleriana subsp. longiligula is fairly restricted to elevations below Poa fendleriana subsp. fendleriana but where there is some winter snow. In Mexico this subspecies is strictly pistillate, apomictic, and distributed between 1300-1900 m. Flowering in spring.

Specimens examined.

Mexico. Baja California: Hansen’s Ranch, 21 Jun 1885, C.R.Orcutt 1276 (DS♀, DS♀, US). 63 mi SE of Ensenada, 2-3 mi upstream of Rincon, 4.5 mi NE of Santa Catarina, canyon, 4300 ft [1310 m] 22 Apr 1962, R.E.Broder 772 (DS♀, US♀). 4 1/2 mi S of Portezuelo de Jamau, N of Cerro 1905, ca. 31°34'N, 115°36'W, 1775 m, 20 Apr 1974, R.Moran 21226 (CAS♀, ARIZ♀, TAES♀, US). Sierra Juarez, El Progresso, ca. 32°17'N, 115°56'W, 1450 m, 24 May 1975, R.Moran 22044 (TAES♀); ditto, N slope just below summit of Cerro Jamau, ca. 31°34'N, 115°35.5'W, 1890 m, 23 May 1976, R.Moran 23257 (TAES♀); ditto, in steep north slope of Cerro Taraizo, southernmost peak of range, ca. 31°21.75'N, 115°31'W, 1550 m, R.Moran 23007 (TAES♀, ARIZ♀, US); ditto, vicinity of Rancho La Mora, 32°01'N, 115°47'W, 12 Apr 1987, C.Brey 192 (TAES♀). Rancho El Topo, 2 May 1981, A.A.Beetle & R.Alcaraz M-6649 (ARIZ♀, WYAC♀). Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Cañon del Diablo, 31°00'N, 115°24'W, 1700 m, 6 May 1978, R.Moran 25626 (TAES♀).

Discussion.

This taxon was accepted as Poa longiligula by Espejo Serna et al. (2000). Some plants in Baja California of this subspecies are intermediate to Poa fendleriana subsp. fendleriana, but in general the longer smoother margined ligules and puberulent rachillas are diagnostic. Where the two taxa occur in the same area Poa fendleriana subsp. longiligula occurs in more xeric habitats, and Poa fendleriana subsp. fendleriana is found in higher elevations.

Figures

Figure 8. Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey. A, B Poa fendleriana subsp. albescens (Hitchc.) Soreng A ligule B floret C-G subsp. fendleriana C habit D inflorescence E ligule F spikelet G floret H, I subsp. longiligula (Scribn. & T. A. Williams) Soreng H ligule I floret. Drawings from Soreng (2007).