Poa dzongicola Noltie

Poa dzongicola differs from P. szechuensis s.l. by the longer ligules, longer, acute glumes and lemmas, and longer anthers. The type of P. dzongicola differs from P. yakiangensis only by the scabrid sheaths and slightly longer glumes.

Annuals or short-lived perennials, tufted to loosely tufted. Culms ascending to erect, (13–)25–76 cm, smooth or sparsely scabrid below nodes, nodes 3 or 4, 0–2 exserted. Leaf sheaths scabrid, 6–14 cm, slightly shorter than to 2 × as long as blade, uppermost closed for 1/4–1/2 of length; blade flat, thin to moderately thin, 5–22 cm × 2–4(–5) mm, surfaces and margins smooth to sparsely scabrid; ligules 2.5–6.5 mm, abaxially smooth or sparsely scabrid, apex truncate to acute, collars, smooth to scabrid, glabrous. Panicle open, narrowly pyramidal, 6.5–18 × 3–6 cm, longest internodes 2–6 cm; branches spreading to reflexed, flexuose, sinuous to twisted to arched, 1–3 per node, scabrid throughout, distally angled, longest 2–8 cm with 5–15(–28) spikelets in distal 1/2–2/3. Spikelets lanceolate, purple tinged, 4–7 mm, florets 2–4(–6); vivipary absent; rachilla internodes 0.8–0.9 mm, smooth to densely scabrid; glumes subequal to unequal, narrow, keel, veins and distal surface sparsely scabrid, lower glume 2.2–4 mm, 1- or 3-veined, upper glume 2.8–4.5 mm; lemmas lanceolate, 3.1–4.4 mm, glabrous throughout, apex acute to acuminate, keel and veins scabrid, intermediate veins prominent, areas between veins scabrid throughout, or partly minutely bumpy; callus glabrous; palea minutely bumpy, sometimes scabrid between keels, keels scabrid. Anthers 0.5–0.9(–1.5) mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

SW Sichuan, SE Xizang [Bhutan, India (Sikkim)].

Coniferous forests openings, low alpine moist sometimes rocky thickets, disturbed ground; 3700–4600 m.

Poa yakiangensis L. Liu.