Festuca longigluma

HABIT Perennial. Culms slender; 70–100 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 0.3–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous (retrorsely); rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 6–12 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.3–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Tovar 1995.

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