Festuca setifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–35 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; with lower narrower than upper; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–5.7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Ovary glabrous.

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

NOTES Poeae. Tovar 2004.

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