Festuca spiralifibrosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths (spirally twisted). Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long; 2 -noded; with 0.2–0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 7 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3.5–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 cm long; bearing 5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Vetter 2005.

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