Festuca matthewsii subsp. latifundii Connor

Glaucous tussock with scabrid leaves and tall culms bearing reflexed branches of large spikelets. Prophyll 2–3–(8) cm, keels antrorsely prickle-toothed, apex acute. Leaf-sheath 3–10 cm, glabrous, margins membranous; apical auricles 0.4–1.0 mm, ciliate, ≈ ligule. Leaf-blade 8–20–(30) cm × 0.5–0.9 mm diam., terete to ± hexagonal, abaxially with short (0.05 mm) antrorse prickle-teeth especially on ribs, adaxially and on margins with abundant longer (0.1 mm) white antrorse hairs; TS: 5 vascular bundles, 7 sclerenchyma strands or sometimes continuous. Culm 20–45–(80) cm, usually exserted high above leaves, nodes dark, evident, internodes smooth but sometimes antrorsely scabrid. Panicle (6)–8–13–(18) cm, erect with 6–8 nodes, 10–15–20 spikelets; branches solitary or often binate, naked below, pulvinate and reflexed, basal branch (1.5)–5–8 cm of 2–6 spikelets, uppermost 2–4 spikelets solitary on 2–4 mm pedicels; rachis margins prickle-toothed sometimes smooth below, branches and pedicels prickle-toothed on margins. Spikelets 10–16 mm × 4–6 mm, of 5–7 florets. Glumes unequal, keels sometimes prickle-toothed, centrally green, brown or reddish, margins ciliate; lower 3–5.5 mm, 1-nerved, upper 3.5–4.5–(6.5) mm, 3-nerved. Lemma (5)–6–7–(8) mm, 5-nerved, glaucous, keeled, smooth except for prickle-teeth at apex, margin antrorsely hairy; awn (1.0)–2–2.5–(3) mm. Palea 5–6–(7.5) mm, usually ≥ lemma, deeply (0.5 mm) bifid, keels toothed in upper ½ or more, interkeel hairs at apex, margins of flanks hairy above. Callus 0.2–0.3 mm, margin sparsely bearded; articulation ± oblique. Rachilla 1.0–1.5 mm, abundantly short stiff hairy. Lodicules 0.7–1.4 mm, usually hair-tipped. Anthers 3–4.2 mm, yellow to purple. Gynoecium: ovary 0.6–1.0 mm, hispid hairs at apex; stigma-styles 1.2–2.0 mm. Caryopsis 2–3 mm; embryo 0.5 mm; hilum ± 2.5 mm. 2n= 42.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]