Festuca hawaiiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or drooping; 4–5 -nate; 8–15 cm long; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 3–5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex cuspidate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–1 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Poeae. Wagner 1993.

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