Festuca iranica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 15–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.5–0.75 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; angular in section; 0.4–0.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 9–13 secondary veins; 1(–3) inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface smooth; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–8 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 8–9 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; membranous; pallid; 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; membranous; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.2–5.6 mm long; chartaceous; purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Alexeev 1995.

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