Festuca callosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 0.3–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 7–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 3–4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Poeae. Piper 2004.

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