Festuca novae-zealandiae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 20–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; bearing 3–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–1.5 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.