Festuca saximontana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms slender; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation distinct.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, and north-central USA.

NOTES Poeae. Rydberg 2004.

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