Festuca caucasica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 20–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 3–4 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 7–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; pallid; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; 7–8 mm long; membranous; pallid; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 6 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female. Male spikelets resembling female.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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