Festuca vierhapperi

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–90 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 13–17 cm long; 3.5–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 13 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 13–17 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–6 cm long; bearing 5–10 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 9–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6.5–8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3.5–7.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Hand-Mazz 1995.

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