Festuca pyrogea

HABIT Perennial. Culms 6–60 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2–10 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–6 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Palea 1 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface puberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.6–3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 4–5 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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