Festuca dentiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 100 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5–4 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20 cm long; 10–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 11–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.2–1.8 mm long; pilose. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8.5–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 6–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface scaberulous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong. Anthers 3; 4.5–5 mm long; purple. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Stancik & Peterson 2004.

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