Festuca subulata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 10–25 cm long; 3–10 mm wide; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; nodding; 15–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; 2–3 -nate; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; rounded except near apex; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–20 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and Mexico. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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