尼木早熟禾 ni mu zao shu he

Basionym: Poa nimuana C. Ling, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 17(1): 103. 1979; P. macrolepis Keng ex C. Ling; P. zhong-baensis C. Ling.

Culms 0.6–1.5 mm in diam., 1–3 nodes. Lower leaf sheaths finely scabrid, uppermost closed for 1/4–2/5 of length; ligule smooth to sparsely scabrid. Longest panicle branches 2–7 cm with up to 5–11 spikelets in distal 1/2–2/3. Spikelets 3–5(–6) mm; rachilla internodes smooth or sparsely scabrid; upper glume (2–)3–5(–6) mm; lemmas (2.5–)3–4(–5) mm, keel villous for 1/2 of length, marginal veins to 1/3, surfaces scabrid or sparsely pilulose near base; palea minutely bumpy between keels, keels scabrid for 1/4–2/3 of length, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug.

* Grassy places on mountain tops, riverside fields, roadsides, frigid alpine crevices, frost scars, marshy ground; 3000–5500 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.

Poa hirtiglumis var. nimuana differs from var. hirtiglumis in the scabrid palea keels and glabrous and more scabrid lemma sides. Poa macrolepis is a taller form with larger spikelets, but there is nothing else to distinguish it from P. hirtiglumis. Poa zhongbaensis is a shorter, smaller-spikeleted form that may be better placed in P. szechuensis var. rossbergiana.