Festuca mathewsii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 30–60 cm long; 2 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; angular in section; 20–30 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 5 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 7–15 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 12–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Poeae. Cheeseman 1995.

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