Festuca caerulescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 60–130 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades linear; flat; 4–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7–11 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; loose; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–13 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 2 mm wide; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex attenuate; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eur 1997.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Bulb 20mm diam.

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