Festuca arizonica

Plants densely cespitose, without rhizomes. Culms 35-80 (100) cm, usually densely scabrous or densely pubescent below the inflorescences. Sheaths closed for less than 1/2 their length, glabrous, smooth or scabrous, persistent; collars glabrous, smooth or scabrous; ligules 0.5-1.5(2) mm; blades 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces scabrous or puberulent, adaxial surfaces scabrous to pubescent, veins 5-7, ribs (1)3-5(7), distinct; abaxial sclerenchyma in 5-7 broad strands, rarely forming a complete band, forming pillars with some veins; adaxial sclerenchyma not developed. Inflorescences (4)6-15(20) cm, loosely contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node; branches erect or spreading, lower branches with 2+ spikelets. Spikelets (6)8-16 mm, with (3)4-6(8) florets. Glumes exceeded by the upper florets, lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally; lower glumes (3)3.3-5.5 mm; upper glumes 4.5-6.6(7) mm; lemmas 5.5-9 mm, glabrous, smooth or scabrous towards the apices, unawned or awned, awns 0.4-2(3) mm; paleas slightly shorter than the lemmas, intercostal region scabrous or puberulent distally; anthers (2)3-4(4.2) mm; ovary apices densely pubescent. 2n = 42.