Festuca versuta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–30 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches drooping. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

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

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Texas 1994.

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