Festuca actae facts for kids

Festuca actae is a type of grass that grows in New Zealand. It's a plant that lives for many years, growing in clumps.

About This Grass

What it Looks Like

This grass is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps and has stems, called culms, that are about 25 to 60 centimeters (about 10 to 24 inches) tall.

The leaves have a small, thin part called a ligule at their base, which is about 0.4 to 0.7 millimeters long. The lower parts of the leaves, called leaf-sheaths, are ribbed and about 5 to 10 centimeters (about 2 to 4 inches) long. They feel a bit hairy.

The leaf-blades, which are the main flat parts of the leaves, are quite long, measuring 20 to 60 centimeters (about 8 to 24 inches).

Flowers and Seeds

The flowers of Festuca actae grow in a loose cluster called a panicle. This cluster can be 5 to 25 centimeters (about 2 to 10 inches) long and holds 10 to 30 tiny flower groups called spikelets.

Each spikelet is a single unit and contains 4 to 7 (sometimes up to 12) fertile florets, which are the small individual flowers. These spikelets have tiny stalks that are a bit rough. Inside, there are small, hairy parts called internodes, about 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.

The protective coverings of the florets, called paleas, are about 6 to 8 millimeters long. They have rough edges and a hairy surface, with a jagged tip.

Outer Layers of the Flowers

The outer protective leaves of the spikelets are called glumes. They are thin and have rough veins. The upper glume is shaped like a spearhead and is about 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. The lower glume is more oval-shaped and is longer, about 4.5 to 7.5 millimeters.

The fertile lemma is another protective layer around the flower. It's about 6 to 9 millimeters long, also shaped like a spearhead, and has a slightly waxy, bluish-green look. Its surface is a bit rough, and it has a jagged tip.

Reproduction and Fruits

The actual Flowers have two small, thin parts called lodicules, which are about 0.75 to 1.5 millimeters long and have tiny hairs. Each flower has three yellow stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen, and they are about 3.5 to 4.4 millimeters long.

The ovary, which is where the seeds develop, is hairy at its tip. The fruits of this grass are small, dry seeds called caryopses, about 3 to 4.75 millimeters long. They have an extra outer layer, called a pericarp, which is also hairy at its tip.

A small scar called a hilum is found on the seed, about 0.6 millimeters from the base of the caryopsis. The tiny plant inside the seed, called the embryo, is located about 0.25 to 0.33 millimeters above the hilum.