Festuca patula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 60–130 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–4.6 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades linear; flat; 8–41 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 12–26 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; loose; 10–30 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–13 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.5–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex attenuate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Extremad 1993.

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