Festuca plebeia Vickery. Prodr. 178 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia, Tasmania: Brown 6293 (K iso).
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (178), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (281).
Habit. Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect, 70–90 cm tall, 1–2 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths smooth or scaberulous, glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, truncate. Leaf-blades aciculate or filiform, conduplicate or involute, 2.3–14.5 cm long, 0.4–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 5–20 cm long.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (4–7), comprising 4–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 10.2–18 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous, without keels, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 4.3–6 mm long, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.
Florets. Fertile lemma 6.4–9 mm long, without keel or keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 1–3.7 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex dentate. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Tasmania.
Tasmania: Central Highlands, Midlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast, South West, Mt Wellington.
Notes. Endemic. Rocky areas under light eucalypt cover, sometimes in wet areas. Flowers Dec.-Feb.
