Festuca horridula

HABIT Perennial. Culms 70–100 cm long; 3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 7–12 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 25–45 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 28–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2 length of fertile spikelet; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 11–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 7.5–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Peru 1997.

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