Poa sinaica Steud.

Eastern desert and Sinai (St.Katherine).

Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, northwest India, western Himalaya.

Although this species does not often proliferate in our area, when it does so it is extremely difficult to distinguish from proliferating plants of Poa bulbosa. Poa sinaica is characteristic of subtropical and arid situations whereas Poa bulbosa prefers more temperate and relatively moist habitats. There is, however, considerable overlap. A morphological distinction can be drawn between them, but the chances of success for those who have not made a detailed study of the species are not very high. According to Feinbrun (Kew Bull. 1940:277.285) they differ in characteristics of ligule, leaf morphology, bulb shape and growth habit.

1600-2000m.

Tufted perennial; culms 10-65cm high, erect or rarely geniculately ascending, clothed at the base with the hardened remains of old leaf-sheaths forming a bulbous swelling. Leaf-blades folded, mostly basal, 3-12cm long, 1.5-2.5mm wide, abruptly tapered at the tip, scabrid on the margins and upper surface; ligule pointed, 2-4mm long. Panicle oblong or elliptic, (3-)6-13cm long, dense; branches 2-4 at the lower nodes, scaberulous. Spikelets 4-7-flowered, oblong-elliptic, 6-8mm long; glumes unequal, elliptic, the lower 3-4mm long, 3-nerved, the upper broader, 3.5-4.5mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas oblong in side-view, 3.5-5 mm long, obtuse, ciliate on the keel and marginal nerves, without any wool at the base (or rarely just 1 or 2 strands); palea a little shorter than the lemma, scabrid along the keels; anthers 1.5-2.5mm long.

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan); throughout the Middle East; western Himalayas.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: April-May.