Festuca subalpina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 20 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 7–12 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade venation comprising 9 vascular bundles; with 3 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 3–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches 0.5–2 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; 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 surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–1.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.2–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Lu 1996.

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