Festuca nandadevica

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Culm-nodes purple; glabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles erect (minute). Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–18 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; nodding; 25–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 4–9 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Hajra 2006.

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