Festuca modesta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 75–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 30–60 cm long; 6–23 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 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; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma oblong; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough generally; glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. 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. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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