Festuca markgrafiae

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 6–19 cm long; 0.25–0.65 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 3–5 vascular bundles; with 3–5 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; elliptic; nodding; 5–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1.5–7 cm long; bearing 1–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 8–11.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 3.5–6.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 6.3–9.5 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; pilose. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.6–4.5 mm long overall; 0.12–0.57 length of lemma. Palea 0.8–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1–1.6 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. Veldkamp 1997.

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