Festuca nomnov(Pseudobromus tenuifolius)

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–60 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 15–22 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 18–20 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–12 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–10 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long; yellow. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Poeae. Camus 2007.

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