Poa orba
N.G.WalshRhizomatous glabrous perennial, to c. 15 cm high; rhzomes long-spreading, sometimes with slightly swollen internodes; culms often slgihtly compressed. Leaves all basal, smooth; sheaths connate near base, unpigmented; blade channelled or closely folded, often biconvex in section, 4–8 cm long, 0.8–1.5 m wide (to 3 mm wide when flattened out), rather stiff, glaucous, sometimes minutely scabrous near margins, apex pointed and narrowly hooded, nerves rather inconspicuous; ligule obtuse or truncate, sometimes shallowly lacerate, membranous, 0.9–3.5 mm long. Inflorescence ovate or more contracted, 2–6 cm long. Spikelets (2–)3–5-flowered, 1.9–2.6 mm long; lower glume 1.9–2.7 mm long, 1- or 3-nerved, upper glume 2.1–2.9 mm long, 3- or 5-nerved; lemma 5- or 7-nerved, 2.3–3.2 mm long, wholly smooth and glabrous, or the midnerve minutely scabrous toward the apex; web absent. Flowers Nov.–Jan.
EGU, HNF. Also NSW. In Victoria apparently confined to the margins and dry bed of Lake Omeo, Benambra, but there locally common.
Previously regarded as an introduction of the New Zealand P. colensoi Hook. f., but differs from that strictly tufted species which has, inter alia, deciduous leaves with a distinct abscisission line at the sheath-blade junction.
Spinning