Festuca rigescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–25 cm long; 1 -noded; with 0.25 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.3 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.2–4 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.8–5.8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Tovar 1995.

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