Festuca austrouralensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; with 0.8–0.9 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; elliptic in section; 5–22 cm long; 0.6–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 3–5 inner ridges; with 3 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.8–1.2 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above; with 0.33–0.5 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6–2.3(–2.5) mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern.

NOTES Poeae. Kulikov 2006.

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