Festuca monantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 4–11 cm long; 0.5–0.85 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 5–7 vascular bundles; with 5–7 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 cm long; bearing 4–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 3.9–5 mm long; 0.75–0.85 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 1.75–7.5 mm long overall; 0.45–1.1 length of lemma. Palea 5–7 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Poeae. Veldkamp 2008.

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