Festuca galicicae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 40–65 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.5–1.1 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7–11 vascular bundles; with 5–7 inner ridges; with sclerenchyma strands below veins and above all veins; with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 6–8 cm long. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8.5–11.7 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 ovate; 5.2–6.9 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6.2–7.8 mm long; chartaceous; light green; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.2–0.8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned all along. Palea surface scabrous; glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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