Festuca morenensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 32–36 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–1 mm long; bilobed. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; circular in section; 1–20 cm long; 0.6–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 11 vascular bundles; with 11 inner ridges; with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins above and below; with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 14–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–5 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.8–1 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Matthei 1996.

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