Festuca kerguelensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 5–8 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 1–2 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 9 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands; with subepidermal sclerenchyma free from veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; sulcate on hilar side; glabrous. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Poeae. WDC 1995.

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