Festuca chrysophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 30–65 cm long; 1 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long; bilobed. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 7–40 cm long; 0.7–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 3 inner ridges; with subepidermal sclerenchyma free from veins (except midrib); with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 6–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8–1 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 5–6.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5.3–6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Palea 6 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.8–1 mm long. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Matthei 1996.

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