Festuca yemenensis E.B.Alexeev

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: low confidence

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 25-50 cm long; 1-1.5 mm diam.; 3-4 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.5 of their length closed; ribbed; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 40-55 cm long; 0.8 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 7 secondary veins; 5 inner ridges; 9 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands; subepidermal sclerenchyma free from veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle contracted; linear; 10-13 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1-3 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 4-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8-9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 4-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8-9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3-3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4-5 mm long; 0.7-0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5-6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2.5-3.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3; 2.2-2.4 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

Distribution

Asia-temperate: Arabia.

Reference

Poeae. Alexeev 1995.