Festuca tucumanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–60 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; scaberulous, or antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.4 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; convolute; 15–30 cm long; 0.4–0.6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 8.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6.5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Turpe 2000.

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