Updated checklist of Poa in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

Abstract

Based on our study of 4,845 herbarium sheets of the genusPoafrom the area covered byFlora iberica, namely, the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, we recognise 24 taxa (17 species, 1 subspecies and 8 varieties), mostly perennials. Most of these taxa have wide global and/or European distributions, while two (P.legionensisand P.minorsubsp.nevadensis) are Spanish endemics and two have restricted distributions (P.ligulata, Iberia–North Africa;P.flaccidula, Iberia–North Africa and the Balearic Islands, extending to Provence, France). We have studied the original publications of more than 225 names considered as synonyms, with those more historically cited inFlora ibericataken into account in this paper; a total of 26 are new synonyms. The following names are typified: P.alpinavar.involucrata Lange, P.annuavar.lanuginosa Sennen, P.minorsubsp.nevadensis Nannf.,P.pauiFont Quer,P.sulcataLag. and P.trivialisvar.flaccida Willk. ex J.J. Rodr. We includeP.compressaL. in the flora of Portugal for the first time and present detailed illustrations of three very interesting taxa (P.legionensis, P.minorsubsp.nevadensis andP.ligulata). In addition to a general species key, we provide the following information for each taxon: synonyms, types, typification, the most relevant iconography, regional flowering time, regional and general distribution and, as supplementary material, the number of sheets examined and a list of selected materials.