Festuca aragonensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; (13.5–)14–24.4(–26.4) cm long. Leaf-sheaths 1.5–4 cm long; smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.15–0.2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; elliptic in section; (3.5–)4–10(–12) cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 5–7 vascular bundles; with 1 inner ridges; with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising (8–)10–15(–18) fertile spikelets.

Panicle spiciform; lanceolate; interrupted; (2.7–)2.9–4(–4.8) cm long. Primary panicle branches (1–)1.2–1.9 cm long; bearing (2–)3–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; (3.8–)4–6.6(–7) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–0.7(–0.8) mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 1.8–2.8(–3.1) mm long; 0.5–1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; (2.3–)2.6–4.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; (3–)3.5–4.5(–4.9) mm long; 1.2–1.5 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.9–1.5(–1.9) mm long overall. Palea oblong; (2.8–)3.4–4.4(–4.7) mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.8–0.9 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.8–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis 2.6–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. Garcia & Ortunez 2014.

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