Poa petrophila
VickeryVelvety-pubescent perennial, tufted or sometimes developing a short, oblique rhizome, culms erect, variably pubescent, to c. 70 cm high. Leaves rather stiff; sheath usually distinctly purplish, pubescent; blade inrolled-terete or closely folded, to c. 25 cm long and 0.5–0.8 mm wide, evenly covered with short, spreading hairs to c. 0.5 mm long and often appearing whitish; ligule truncate or obtuse, membranous, densely ciliate, to c. 1 mm long. Inflorescence commonly a somewhat contracted panicle, occasionally the lower branches widely spreading, to c. 13 cm long and 7 cm wide. Spikelets 3–6-flowered, 3–6 mm long, mostly purplish; glumes 3-nerved, 2–2.5 mm long, the upper slightly longer than lower; lemma 5-nerved, 3–4 mm long, evenly short-pubescent, or hairs confined to basal part, usually with long hairs along the keel near the base; web absent or reduced to a few hairs. Flowers Nov.–Feb.
HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also NSW. Uncommon in Victoria and apparently confined to rather exposed, rocky situations at between 1100–1600 m (e.g. Mts Clear, McDonald and Delegate, Nunniong Plateau and Mt Seldom Seen near Wulgulmerang).
Easily confused with Poa morrisii, from which it can be difficult to separate.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.