Festuca killickii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; convolute; 30–60 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 10–15 cm long; 3–5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; 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; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3–3.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; a panicle. Male spikelets resembling female; 4–6 flowered.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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