Festuca krivotulenkoae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 50–75 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins above and below.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–30 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6.5–7.8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Alexeev 2001.

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