Austrofestuca littoralis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 20–50 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade venation comprising (7–)9–11(–15) vascular bundles; with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 7–16 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; 1–5 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume linear; 10–13 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 11–14 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 11–14 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface asperulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous; ciliate; 2-toothed. Anthers 3; 6–9 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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