Festuca durata

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms (30–)50–80(–110) cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; 5–15(–25) cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 10–14 vascular bundles; with sclerenchyma strands below veins and above all veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1(–2) -nate; 1.2–3(–9) cm long; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 10–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.6–2.5(–3) mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 8.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6.5–9.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex emarginate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 6–13 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl China 2005.

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