Poaceae

P. alpinum L., Sp.Pl. 59(1753). Syn: P. commutatum Gaudin, Alpina3:4 (1808);P. alpinum L.var. commutatum (Gaudin)Boiss.,Fl.Or.5:484(1884)! Ic: Fl. Iraq 9: t. 1ll (1968); Hubbard, Grasses ed. 2:324 (1968). Map 76. Laxly caespitose perennial, shortly rhizomatous. Stems 10-55(-60) cm, erect to geniculately ascending, smooth, glabrous, 2-3-noded. Leaf sheaths glabrous, uppermost sometimes inflated; ligule to 2 mm, truncate; blades 2.5-15.5 cm x 2.5-6 mm, linear, acuminate, glabrous but with scabrid margins. Panicle 1-4 x 0.5-1.2 cm, ovoid-oblong to shortly cylindrical, usually purplish. Spikelets 3-7 mm (incl. aristate points), oblong, truncate. Glumes 2.5-4 mm
(excl, aristate points), ciliate on keels, slightly hispid on margins, abruptly term-inating in an aristate point (1.5-)2-3.5 mm. Lemma ovate, obtuse, c. 2/3 x glumes, hyaline, minutely hairy on veins, mid-vein sometimes minutely exser-ted. Palea slightly shorter than lemma. Anthers 1.2-1.8 mm. Caryopsis c. 1.5-1.6 mm. Fl. 6-8. Wet alpine and subalpine meadows, open slopes, by streams, Picea-Fagus forest, 1525-3175 m.
Described from the Alps (Hb. Linn. 81/4!).
Mainly N. & E. Anatolia. A2(A) Bursa: Ulu Da., 1842, Boiss.! A3 Bolu: Ala Da., Kartal Kaya, 1700 m, Alpay 391! A6 Sivas: Yeniköy to Çat Pinari, 1800-1900 m, D. 68946(!). A7 Giresun: Balaban Da., above Tamdere, Avşar Y., 2400 m, D. 20566! A8 Rize: Çamlihemşin, Amlahit Y., 1900-2000 m, Güner 1158! A9 Çoruh: Kordevan Da. nr Kütül Y., 2100 m, D. 30187! Bl Balıkesir: Kaz Da., Sint. 1883:528! B5 Kayseri: ErciyasDa., 2400m, Penther &Zederbauer. B7 Tunceli: Munzur Da.above Ovacik, 2400 m, D.31343! B8 Muş: W. side of Bingöl Da., 2530 m, D. 46167! B9 Ağri: Balik G. (Grossheim l:map 156). BlO Kars: Büyük Ağri Da., 2440 m, 14 viii 1910, B. Post 2162! C5 Niğde: Bulghar Maden, viii 1855, Bal.! C9 Hakkari: Cilo Da., 10 km W. of Cilo Tepe, 3140 m, D. 24142! C10 Hakkari: Sat Da. between Varegöz and Sat G., 2600 m, D. 45673!
N., W. & C. Europe, C. & S. Russia, Mediterranean area (except N. Africa), Caucasia, Siberia, Afghanistan, E. Asia. Euro-Sib, element. Often confused with another high mountain species, P. pratense, but differing by the panicle being not more than 4 cm, ovoid-oblong or cylindrical; spikelets 3-7 mm (incl. aristate point); aristate points of glumes 1.5-3.5 mm. Var. commutatum Boiss. appears to be merely a slightly dwarf form, not worthy of formal recognition.