Festuca sinomutica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 68–75 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 13–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 7 vascular bundles; with 7 inner ridges; with 9 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2.5–5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 17–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; smooth.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 3.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6.5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Lu 1996.

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