Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poa trivialis L., Sp. Pl. 67 (1753)
Vernacular Name(s):
Rough meadow grass; Rough-stalked meadow grass
 Description

Open, often wide-leaved, light to darkish green, stoloniferous perennial tufts, c. 20–90 cm; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath light green, sometimes purplish, ± membranous, usually finely scabrid on ribs, especially near ligule, keeled. Ligule 2.5–10 mm, apically glabrous, entire, tapered to a point, abaxially with scattered very minute prickle-teeth. Leaf-blade 10–20 cm × 1.5–7 mm, soft, flat, finely scabrid on ribs or smooth; margins and fine pointed tip finely scabrid. Culm 40–70 cm, erect, internodes smooth, or finely scabrid below panicle. Panicle (5)–10–20 cm, usually open and very lax; rachis smooth to finely scabrid above, branches fine, spreading, finely, densely scabrid, with numerous spikelets toward tips. Spikelets 3–4 mm, 2–3-flowered, green or purplish. Glumes ± unequal, finely scabrid on nerves; lower 1.5–2.5 mm, 1-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, upper 2–3 mm, 3-nerved, elliptic- to ovate-lanceolate; tips fine, acute. Lemma 2–3 mm, 5-nerved, narrow-oblong, glabrous, but midnerve with short fine hairs on lower ½ and scabrid above hairs, marginal nerves with a few short hairs near base; margins and acute tip membranous. Palea 2–2.5 mm, keels extremely minutely scabrid, interkeel glabrous. Callus with long slender tuft of fine crinkled hairs. Rachilla ± 0.5 mm, glabrous. Lodicules 0.2–0.4 mm. Anthers 1.5–2 mm. Caryopsis c. 1.5 × 0.5 mm, tightly enclosed by anthoecium.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
Edgar, E. 1986: Poa L. in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 425–503.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.