Festuca elbrusica

HABIT Perennial. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; with 0.1–0.15 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; 0.4–0.55 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation comprising 5(–7) vascular bundles; with 5 secondary veins; with 3 inner ridges; with 4 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands. Leaf-blade surface smooth; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–1.7 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above; with 0.33 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–3.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Alexeev 1995.

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