Festuca asthenica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 90–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 15–30 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 14–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–6 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pak 1993.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.