Derivation
Poa L., Sp. Pl. 67 (1753); from the Greek poa (grass, especially as fodder).

porphyroclados- from the Greek porphyra (purple) and klados (branch).

Published in
J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 2: 105 (1846).

Common synonyms
Poa serpentum R.Br.

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Cataphylls present. Basal leaf sheaths herbaceous, pallid. Young shoots extravaginal. Culms 40–120 cm tall, 1–2-noded. Mid-culm internodes terete, smooth or scaberulous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed membrane, 0.4–0.6 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades filiform, flat or involute, 8–47 cm long, 0.3–3.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above. Panicle open, ovate, effuse, 7–32 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, 4-nate. Panicle branches capillary, scaberulous.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels scabrous. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 2–6 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 4–8 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus woolly.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar. Lower glume oblong, 2.1–3.2 mm long, 90% length of upper glume, membranous, 1-keeled, 3-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong, 2.3–3.4 mm long, 75% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-keeled, 3-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Fertile lemma oblong, oblong in profile, 2.6–3.75 mm long, membranous, 5-nerved. Lemma midnerve ciliate. Lemma margins eciliate or ciliate, hairy at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 90% of length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous, adorned above. Palea surface smooth or scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Lodicules 2, membranous. Anthers 3, 1.8–2.2 mm long, yellow or purple. Grain with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia: Irwin, Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Warren, Eyre, Roe.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Poeae

Notes
Endemic to W.A. Flowers Oct.–Dec.