Festuca liangshanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms 60–80 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–13 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 15–17 vascular bundles; with sclerenchyma strands below veins and above all veins. Leaf-blade margins smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; 8–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 3–9 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.8–2.2 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 0.66–0.85 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 7.5–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous, or punctate. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.5–13 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.6–4 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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