Festuca chuquisacae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls inconspicuous. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 200 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–8 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 25–35 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20 cm long; 5–6 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 3–3.6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous, or chartaceous; light brown; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; light brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.5–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea surface scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3.5–3.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Stancik & Renvoize 2007.

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