Festuca francoi

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; angular in section; 0.5–0.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 5 inner ridges; with sclerenchyma strands below veins and above all veins; with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins below; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; with rounded ribs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; (5–)7–11 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; (4–)5–8.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9.5 mm long; 1–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn (0.5–)1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–7 mm long; 1.3–2 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn (1.5–)2.3–5.5(–8) mm long overall. Palea (4.3–)5–6.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Poeae. Prieto et al 2009.

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