Festuca scabriflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 60–80 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 5–8(–15) cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 16–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex emarginate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 6–8 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3–1.7 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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