Common name
Fringed Fescue

Derivation
Vulpia C.C.Gmel., Fl. Bad. 1: 8 (1805); after J.S.Vulpius (1760–1840), a German chemist.

ciliata- from the Latin cilium (eyelid) and -ata (possessing).

Published in
Observ. Gramin. Belg. 100 (1824).

Habit
Annual, tufted. Culms erect or decumbent, 5–45 cm tall, 1–2-noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate or a fringed membrane. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 1–10 cm long, 0.4–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes, exserted or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Panicle contracted, linear, secund, straight, 3–33 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches angular, scaberulous.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels oblong, 0.5–1 mm long. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 1–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 5–10.2 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas, scaberulous.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong or ovate, 0.2–1.3 mm long, 10–30% length of upper glume, membranous, 0–1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, 1.9–3.4 mm long, 50–60% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1–3-nerved. Upper glume lateral nerves obscure. Upper glume apex acute, muticous.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate, 4–7.7 mm long, chartaceous, 3–5-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma surface scaberulous, hairy. Lemma margins eciliate or ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn 5–15.3 mm long overall. Palea 100% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex entire. Rhachilla extension 1–3.4 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped, 3–5 in number. Anthers 1, 0.3–0.4 mm long, retained within floret. Ovary glabrous. Grain with adherent pericarp, linear, glabrous. Hilum linear, 100% of length of caryopsis.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.

South Australia: Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands.Victoria: Lowan Mallee, Wimmera, Wannon, Grampians, Riverina, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plains.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Poeae

Notes
Introduced. Native to the Mediterranean. In dry (often sandy), open habitats. Flowers Oct.–Dec. Fruits Nov.–Dec. Australian material is subsp. ciliata.