Festuca xanthina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 25–54 cm long. Culm-internodes retrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; with 0.1–0.25 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.3–0.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 3–5 inner ridges; with sclerenchyma strands above some veins and above all veins; with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–9.5 cm long. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5.6 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.6–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; yellow; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3–5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a caryopsis and palea.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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