Festuca donax

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; nodding; 18–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6.2 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.4–5.2 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; glabrous. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Poeae. Hackel 1997.

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