Festuca cirrosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 30–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 1.5–5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 20–40 cm long; 0.8–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7.5–9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy generally, or above. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy generally, or above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–4 mm long overall. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 3.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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