Festuca yunnanensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 65–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 25–35 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; equilateral; 12–15(–19) cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous, or pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.8–4.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.3–5.7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6.8–7.2 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Principal lemma awn (0.5–)1–2(–5) mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate, or ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous, or with a few apical hairs.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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