山地早熟禾 shan di zao shu he

Basionym: Poa orinosa Keng, Fl. Tsinling. 1(1): 439. 1976; P. incerta Keng ex L. Liu; P. schoenites Keng ex L. Liu; P. stereophylla Keng ex L. Liu.

Culms (25–)30–45(–70) cm tall. Leaf blades flat or folded; ligule 0.9–3 mm. Panicle contracted, narrow, 8–10 × (0.5–)1–1.5 cm, basal branches (1/4–)1/3–1/2 as long as panicle. Spikelets 3–4 mm, florets 2–3(–5); rachilla pubescent or rarely glabrous; callus of lemma glabrous or webbed.

* Grassy places on slopes; 2500–3600 m. Hebei, Henan, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

This subspecies, described from C and S China, is quite close to Poa versicolor subsp. stepposa, and probably replaces it in this area. The types of Poa incerta and P. schoenites are allied to subsp. orinosa, and their populations appear to form a continuum with it. The type of P. stereophylla differs in its wiry culm, but this is not a constant feature and depends very much on the environment. Poa versicolor subsp. orinosa might be intermediate between P. versicolor and P. alta, but as the characters of P. versicolor are absolutely prevailing it is attributed here to that species.